Hepatitis C screening in Lithuania: first-year results and scenarios for achieving WHO elimination targets.

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization (WHO) has outlined a set of targets to achieve eliminating hepatitis C by 2030. In May 2022, Lithuanian health authorities initiated a hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening program to start working towards elimination. In the program, bonus was given to general practitioners (GPs) to promote and conduct anti-HCV tests for two situations: (1) one time testing for individuals born in 1945-1994 and (2) annual HCV testing for persons who inject drugs or are living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) regardless of age. This study aimed to model the current viral hepatitis C epidemiological status in Lithuania and to outline the requirements for WHO elimination targets using the first-year HCV screening results. METHODS: Individuals were invited to participate in the anti-HCV screening by GPs during routine visits. Patients who tested positive were then referred to a gastroenterologist or infectious disease doctor for further confirmatory testing. If a patient received a positive RNA test and a fibrosis staging result of ≥ F2, the doctor prescribed direct-acting antivirals. Information on the patients screened, diagnosed, and treated was obtained from the National Health Insurance Fund. The Markov disease progression model, developed by the CDA Foundation, was used to evaluate the screening program results and HCV elimination progress in Lithuania. RESULTS: Between May 2022 and April 2023, 790,070 individuals underwent anti-HCV testing, with 11,943 individuals (1.5%) receiving positive results. Anti-HCV seroprevalence was found to be higher among males than females, 1.9% and 1.2%, respectively. Within the risk population tested, 2087 (31.1%) seropositive individuals were identified. When comparing the screening program results to WHO elimination targets through modelling, 2180 patients still need to be treated annually until 2030, along with expanding fibrosis restrictions. If an elimination approach was implemented, 1000 new infections would be prevented, while saving 150 lives and averting 90 decompensated cirrhosis cases and 110 hepatocellular carcinoma cases. CONCLUSIONS: During the first year of the Lithuanian screening program, GPs were able to screen 44% of the target population. However, the country will not meet elimination targets as it currently stands without increasing treatment levels and lifting fibrosis restrictions.

Genotype Distribution and Characteristics of Chronic Hepatitis C Infection in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Ukraine: The RESPOND-C Study.

Background and objectives: Since 2013, highly effective direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) has become available, with cure rates exceeding 95%. For the choice of optimal CHC treatment, an assessment of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype (GT) and liver fibrosis stage is necessary. Information about the distribution of these parameters among CHC patients in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania (the Baltic states) and especially in Ukraine is scarce. This study was performed to obtain epidemiologic data regarding CHC GT and fibrosis stage distribution for better planning of resources and prioritization of patients for DAA drug treatment according to disease severity in high-income (the Baltic states) and lower-middle-income (Ukraine) countries. Materials and methods: The retrospective RESPOND-C study included 1451 CHC patients. Demographic and disease information was collected from medical charts for each patient. Results: The most common suspected mode of viral transmission was blood transfusions (17.8%), followed by intravenous substance use (15.7%); however, in 50.9% of patients, the exact mode of transmission was not clarified. In Ukraine (18.4%) and Estonia (26%), transmission by intravenous substance use was higher than in Lithuania (5%) and Latvia (5.3%). Distribution of HCV GT among patients with CHC was as follows: GT1-66.4%; GT3-28.1; and GT2-4.1%. The prevalence of GT1 was the highest in Latvia (84%) and the lowest in Ukraine (63%, p < 0.001). Liver fibrosis stages were distributed as follows: F0-12.2%, F1-26.3%, F2-23.5%, F3-17.1%, and F4-20.9%. Cirrhosis (F4) was more prevalent in Lithuanian patients (30.1%) than in Estonians (8.1%, p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study contributes to the knowledge of epidemiologic characteristics of HCV infection in the Baltic states and Ukraine. The data regarding the patterns of HCV GT and fibrosis stage distribution will be helpful for the development of national strategies to control HCV infection in the era of DAA therapy.

Hepatitis C Virus Epidemiology in Lithuania: Situation before Introduction of the National Screening Programme.

In 2022, the Lithuanian health authorities decided to pay general practitioners a fee for performing serological tests for hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies in the population born from 1945 to 1994 once per life and annual HCV testing for PWID and HIV infected patients. This study aimed to assess trends in HCV-related mortality in the country and the prevalence of HCV infection among patients with liver diseases and evaluate possibilities of screening for HCV infection at a primary health care center. Age-standardized mortality rates in 2010-2020 were calculated for deaths caused by chronic hepatitis C and some liver diseases. Data on HCV infection among patients with liver cirrhosis, cancer and transplant patients were collected from the tertiary care hospital Kauno Klinikos. The prevalence of anti-HCV and risk factors of HCV infection was assessed among patients registered with the health care center in Klaipeda, where a pilot study of screening was performed. No steady trend in mortality was observed. Analysis of medical documentation showed that 40.5% of patients with liver cirrhosis, 49.7% with cancers and 36.9% of transplant patients were HCV infected. Over the year, 4867 patients were screened in the primary health care center. Positive anti-HCV prevalence was 1.7% (2.1% in men and 1.3% in women). Blood transfusion and being a blood donor before 1993 also having tattoos were associated with higher odds of HCV infection. The study revealed the active participation of individuals in HCV screening.

HCV Elimination in Central Europe with Particular Emphasis on Microelimination in Prisons.

In 2016, the WHO announced a plan to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030. In this narrative review, experts from Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Slovakia assessed the feasibility of achieving the WHO 2030 target for HCV infections in Central Europe. They focused mainly on HCV micro-elimination in prisons, where the highest incidence of HCV infections is usually observed, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the detection and treatment of HCV infections. According to the presented estimates, almost 400,000 people remain infected with HCV in the analyzed countries. Interferon-free therapies are available ad libitum, but the number of patients treated annually in the last two years has halved compared to 2017-2019, mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. None of the countries analyzed had implemented a national HCV screening program or a prison screening program. The main reason is a lack of will at governmental and prison levels. None of the countries analyzed see any chance of meeting the WHO targets for removing viral hepatitis from the public threat list by 2030, unless barriers such as a lack of political will and a lack of screening programs are removed quickly.

Changes in the Seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori among the Lithuanian Medical Students over the Last 25 Years and Its Relation to Dyspeptic Symptoms.

Background and Objectives: The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection is decreasing in the Western world, while remaining high in developing countries. There is limited up-to-date information about the prevalence of H. pylori in Central and Eastern Europe. The aim of our study was to assess the seroprevalence of H. pylori and its trend over the past 25 years among students of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LUHS) and to assess its relation to dyspeptic symptoms. Materials and Methods: In the years 1995, 2012, 2016 and 2020, students from Medical and Nursing Faculties of LUHS were tested for the presence of antibodies against H. pylori by performing serological tests from finger capillary blood. In addition, in the years 2012, 2016 and 2020, the students completed a gastrointestinal symptom rating scale (GSRS) questionnaire in order to assess dyspeptic symptoms. The study population consisted of 120 students in the year 1995 (mean age-21.3 ± 1.0 years), 187 students in the year 2012 (mean age-22.4 ± 0.7 years), 262 students in the year 2016 (mean age-20.4 ± 1.0 years) and 148 students in the year 2020 (mean age-20.4 ± 1.7 years). Results: The seroprevalence for H. pylori was positive in 62 (51.7%) students in 1995, in 57 (30.4%) students in 2012, in 69 (26.3%) students in 2016 and in 21 (14.2%) students in 2020. The statistically significant difference was found between all study years, except between 2012 and 2016. There were no significant differences in frequency and intensity of upper dyspeptic symptoms between H. pylori positive and negative students. Conclusions: Over the last 25 years the seroprevalence of H. pylori among students of LUHS has decreased significantly. No consistent differences in dyspeptic symptoms among H. pylori positive and negative subgroups were found.