Core indicators related to the elimination of hepatitis B and C virus infection in South Korea: A nationwide study

Abstract

Background/Aims: To eliminate hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria in 2021, this study investigated the national core indicators representing the current status of viral hepatitis B and C in South Korea.Methods: We analyzed the incidence, linkage-to-care, treatment, and mortality rates of HBV and HCV infection using the integrated nationwide big data of South Korea.Results: According to data from 2018–2020, the incidence of acute HBV infection in South Korea was 0.71 cases per 100,000 population; tthe linkage-to-care rate was only 39.4%. Among those who need hepatitis B treatment, the treatment rate was 67.3%, which was less than 80% reported in the WHO program index. The annual liver-related mortality due to HBV was 18.85 cases per 100,000 population, exceeding the WHO target of four; the most frequent cause of death was liver cancer (54.1%). The annual incidence of newly diagnosed HCV infection was 11.9 cases per 100,000 population, which was higher than the WHO impact target of five. Among HCV-infected patients, the linkage-to-care rate was 65.5% while the treatment rate was 56.8%, which were below the targets of 90% and 80%, respectively. The liver-related annual mortality rate due to HCV infection was 2.02 cases per 100,000 population.Conclusions: Many of the current indicators identified in the Korean population did not satisfy the WHO criteria for validation of viral hepatitis elimination. Hence, a comprehensive national strategy should be urgently developed with continuous monitoring of the targets in South Korea.

Linvencovir: Paving the way for functional cure in hepatitis B

“…1,2 With currently available antiviral treatments, such as nucleos(t)ide analogues (NUCs), functional cure is rarely achievable despite long-term treatment, necessitating innovative, finite new antiviral treatments. [3][4][5] Numerous compounds have been under development to achieve functional cure. Fortunately, some have been successful in proving their efficacy, although the efficacy remains unsatisfactory.…”

“…Functional cure, defined as unquantifiable hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA and sustained hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss, is the ultimate goal of antiviral treatment for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) [ 1 , 2 ]. With currently available antiviral treatments, such as nucleos(t)ide analogues (NUCs), functional cure is rarely achievable despite long-term treatment, necessitating innovative, finite new antiviral treatments [ 3 - 5 ]. Numerous compounds have been under development to achieve functional cure.…”