Epidemiology and management of HCV Infection
Journal
East Asian Archives of Psychiatry
Journal Volume
30
Journal Issue
1
Pages
145-149
Date Issued
2020
Author(s)
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is an important issue of global public health. Approximately 180 million individuals have been infected by HCV. Estimated by WHO in 2015, around 71 million patients were chronically infected by HCV, and most of them lived in Asia. The incidence of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) was about 1%. Hepatitis C is transmitted primarily via body fluid or blood. Development of all-oral direct antiviral agents (DAAs) has caused a paradigm shift for treatment of CHC. In the past, the standard care of CHC was the combination of pegylated interferon plus ribavirin, which had a higher risk of adverse effects and less tolerable, although it was quite effective. DAAs are more effective and safer, so are more welcome and suitable for treatment of CHC patients. In 2016, WHA advocated "to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030". Taiwan's government has set a more ambitious goal, aiming to eliminate hepatitis C by 2025. This achievement will be a milestone for management and prevention of CHC, making human society free from the threat of HCV infection forever. ? 2020 Hong Kong Academy of Medicine Press. All rights reserved.
SDGs
Other Subjects
Article; hepatitis C; Hepatitis C virus; human; infection prevention
Publisher
Hong Kong Academy of Medicine Press
Type
journal article