Global Trends and Regional Differences in Hepatitis C Virus Infection Prevalence and Implications for Prevention — Worldwide, 1990−2017

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ON THIS TOPIC? The global prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in 2015 has been modeled to assess the disease burden in 21 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) regions. However, there is no study to clarify the global long-term trends and regional differences in HCV infection prevalence. WHAT IS ADDED BY THIS REPORT? This report clarified the global temporal trends and regional differences in HCV infection prevalence. Global HCV infection age-standardized prevalence rate (ASR) gradually decreased from 1990 to 2017 except in Eastern Europe, and liver cancer due to hepatitis C ASR increased worldwide with drastic shifts in low-middle Socio-Demographic Index (SDI) regions in the last decade. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE? HCV is still prevalent worldwide despite the development of highly effective direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) and showed a reemergence concurrent with the opioid crisis. HCV infection prevention might involve at least 3 aspects: first, prohibiting HCV widespread transmission among general populations; second, increasing global DAAs coverage; and third, continuously investing in the development of the HCV vaccine.