The authors of the report by the National Program for Viral Hepatitis point to a slight increase in hospitalizations for chronic hepatitis B, justifying it with the increase in forced migration associated with armed conflicts and insist on screening.
According to the report released today, hospitalizations for chronic hepatitis B rose from 17 in 2021 to 21 last year and those responsible warn that this can be explained by the “significant increase” in migration associated with wars in countries where the prevalence of viral hepatitis B and C is very high (1% and 3% of the population of Ukraine).
“We will have to be aware of this situation, which could change the downward curve that we have been observing in the last decade, as well as implement screening measures, early diagnosis, treatment and vaccination of viral hepatitis B and C in immigrant populations and refugees,” they warn.
Speaking to Lusa, the director of the National Program for Viral Hepatitis, Rui Tato Marinho, recognizes these cases in immigrants from countries where health care is not good, namely in Africa and Asia, and says that it is recommended to doctors of general and family medicine that assist these people to, at least once, ask for the test.
“We recommend that colleagues in general and family medicine, if they evaluate these people, (...) ask for the test for hepatitis B, C and HIV. Even to allow these people to have the best health care, because we also need them to help make the country ”, he explained.
The report points to a decrease in hospitalizations for chronic hepatitis B and C in the Portuguese population in the last decade: from 74 hospitalizations for chronic hepatitis B in 2013 to 21 in 2022 and from 228 hospitalizations for chronic hepatitis C in 2013 to 13 last year.
This decrease is more significant for chronic hepatitis C, being more pronounced since 2015, "coinciding with the start of medication with direct-acting antivirals for hepatitis C", says the document.
The authors of the report also cite an article published in April 2021 on the evolution of hospitalizations for liver cirrhosis in Portugal, from 2010 to 2017, which showed a reduction by half of cases of cirrhosis associated with hepatitis C (from 424 hospitalizations in 2015 to 206 in 2017).
“Last year we already noticed, it decreased a lot. There were even patients who got off the transplant list. And in relation to hepatitis B, the same thing, because of 20 years of vaccination”, explained Tato Marinho.
The document points out, at European level, the lack of complete epidemiological data on both hepatitis B and C, including information on the route of transmission, imported cases and whether it is chronic or acute hepatitis.
"This lack of comprehensive data negatively affects the effectiveness of viral hepatitis prevention and control strategies, makes it difficult to monitor ongoing policies and programs, and ultimately impedes progress toward global elimination goals," warn the authors. .
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