Blueprint to hepatitis B elimination in China: A modelling analysis of clinical strategies

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Globally, one-third of individuals infected with HBV live in China. Eliminating HBV in China would therefore be paramount in achieving the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) targets of viral hepatitis elimination as a worldwide public health threat. METHODS: We constructed a dynamic HBV transmission model in China, structured by age and sex. We calibrated the model by HBsAg prevalence, acute HBV incidence, and nationally reported HBV-related cancer mortality. We investigated seven intervention scenarios (A–G) based on assumptions in diagnostic, linkage-to-care, and treatment coverages in achieving the WHO’s HBV elimination goals. RESULTS: With the status quo, HBsAg prevalence among children 1–4 years would reduce to 0.09% (95% CI 0.09–0.10%) by 2025; acute HBV incidence would drop to <2/100,000 person-years by 2024, achieving the elimination target of 90% incidence reduction. Nonetheless, China would not achieve a 65% reduction target in HBV-related mortality until 2059 with 9.98 (95% CI 9.27–10.70) million HBV-related deaths occurred by 2100. If China achieves 90% diagnostic and 80% treatment coverages (scenario E), HBV elimination would be achieved 8 years earlier, potentially saving 1.98 (95% CI 1.83–2.12) million lives. With more effective therapies for HBV control in preventing cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, elimination targets could be achieved in 2048 (scenario F) and 2038 (scenario G), additionally saving 3.59 (95% CI 3.37–3.82) and 5.19 (95% CI 4.83–5.55) million lives, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Eliminating HBV will require interventional strategies to improve diagnostic, linkage-to-care, and treatment coverages. Developing novel therapies will be crucial in further reducing HBV-related mortality and removing HBV as a public health threat. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS: This study explores the key developments and optimal intervention strategies needed to achieve WHO hepatitis B elimination targets by 2030 in China. It highlights that China can realise the HBV elimination targets in the incidence by 2025, and by upscaling diagnostic, linkage-to-care, and treatment coverages, up to 2 million lives could potentially be saved from HBV-related deaths.