‘It’s time for action’: World Hepatitis Day calls to end an ‘entirely preventable disease’
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Every year on July 28th, clinicians and researchers recognize World Hepatitis Day to bring awareness to one of the world’s deadliest but preventable viruses and continue efforts to meet the global goal of eliminating viral hepatitis by 2030.
There are over 350 million people currently living with hepatitis, according to the World Hepatitis Alliance. Cases of hepatitis are on the rise, with over 2 million new cases every year. Calling hepatitis an “entirely preventable disease,” the WHO said the virus continues to spread due to the underuse of available resources and the persistence of stigma surrounding the disease.
Moreover, 1.3 million people die of hepatitis every year, with an estimated one person dying of a viral hepatitis-related illness every 30 seconds. This year’s theme “It’s time for action” is a call to “accelerate” prevention, diagnosis and treatment by increasing testing and vaccinations to better patient outcomes and save lives.
In honor of World Hepatitis Day, Healio recaps the latest research on viral hepatitis, including updates on elimination goals, data from studies on new treatments and how to improve patient outcomes.
CDC: Hepatitis C clearance rates well below national elimination goals
Hepatitis C virus clearance rates in all states fell well short of national elimination goals, a study published in MMWR showed.
HCV cured or cleared rates were substantially low from 2013 to 2022, with only 34% of the more than 1.7 million people diagnosed with HCV considered to be cured. Read more.
VIDEO: Larsucosterol reduces mortality by more than 50% in alcohol-associated hepatitis
In a Healio video exclusive, Mitchell L. Shiffman, MD, reports that U.S. patients with severe alcohol-associated hepatitis treated with larsucosterol experienced a “statistically significant” reduction in 90-day mortality — more than 50%.
“Severe alcohol use and alcoholic hepatitis significantly increased several years ago during the COVID epidemic,” Shiffman, director of the Liver Institute of Virginia at Bon Secours Mercy Health, said. “Now that COVID is behind us, alcohol use and alcoholic hepatitis continue to remain at very high levels both in the U.S. and many other countries throughout the world. There is no effective treatment for severe alcohol-associated hepatitis.” Read more.
DAA treatment ‘longitudinally continues to improve’ liver-related survival in HCV
Treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus with direct-acting antivirals improved liver-related morbidity and survival, regardless of hepatocellular carcinoma, although patients aged older than 60 years should be monitored, a presenter.
“Treatment of HCV with DAAs results in permanent viral clearance (SVR) in the vast majority of HCV patients,” Eiichi Ogawa, PhD, of Kyushu University Hospital, said at EASL Congress. “Many reports have shown significant reduction in development of HCC and mortality for up to approximately 5 years after SVR.” Read more.
Bulevirtide monotherapy ‘may prevent decompensation but not HCC’ in HDV, cirrhosis
Over 2 years, bulevirtide (Gilead Sciences) monotherapy reduced the risk for decompensation and mortality, but not hepatocellular carcinoma, among patients with hepatitis D virus and compensated cirrhosis compared with untreated patients.
“Bulevirtide, the first-in-class entry inhibitor, has been approved by [European Medicines Agency] for treatment of compensated chronic hepatitis delta,” Elisabetta Degasperi, MD, PhD, of the division of gastroenterology and hepatology at Foundation IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, said at EASL Congress. “In phase 2 and 3 clinical trials and real-life studies, bulevirtide monotherapy yielded high rates of virological and biochemical response, also in patients with cirrhosis. Read more.
Adjuvanted hepatitis B vaccine effective among nonresponsive HCWs
A two-dose series of a hepatitis B vaccine with a CpG adjuvant resulted in a more than 90% response rate among health care workers previously classified as nonresponders, researchers found.
“Clinical studies showed superior response rates for populations that are at risk for nonresponse — adults aged 40 years and older and individuals with type 2 diabetes,” Mary S. Hayney, PharmD, MPH, professor of pharmacy at the University of Wisconsin School of Pharmacy, told Healio. Read more.
ACG recommends full patient workup, evaluation to differentiate focal liver lesions
In a new clinical practice guideline, the ACG has provided evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and management of the most common focal liver lesions among individuals without known liver disease.
“With the continued dramatic rise in the widespread role of imaging in diagnosis and management of patients, there is a resultant rise in detection of asymptomatic incidental liver lesions,” Catherine Frenette, MD, of Family Health Centers of San Diego, and colleagues wrote in the American Journal of Gastroenterology. “It is critical to understand appropriate management of incidentally detected benign focal liver lesions because they have differing clinical implications from malignant lesions such as hepatocellular carcinoma, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and metastatic disease.” Read more.
Treating patients in the LGBTQIA+ community: ‘The key is cultural humility, kindness’
According to a 2021 Gallup poll, 7.1% of the U.S. population reported identifying as LGBTQIA+ — “nearly double” the percentage in 2012 — including one in five Generation Z adults.
Moreover, experts said conditions like viral hepatitis and anal cancers can disproportionately affect the LGBTQIA+ community.
Despite these growing numbers, historically upheld bias, stigma and discrimination on both societal and provider levels continue to marginalize patients in this population and affect equitable access to health care. Read more.
‘All hands on deck’: GIs should continue to be part of viral hepatitis care team
Primary care providers and other specialists often refer patients to gastroenterologists with any liver-related health concerns, as they are the first touch point for newly diagnosed patients or those living with chronic liver disease.
In addition, in many practice settings hepatologists, or dedicated liver specialists, are not available. As such, it is often the gastroenterologists who are the front-line providers to identify and manage viral hepatitis. Thus, it is important that once GI providers see patients who are at risk for, or living with viral hepatitis, they conduct the appropriate testing and ensure that patients are linked to follow up care. Read more.
References:
- World Hepatitis Day. World Hepatitis Alliance. https://www.worldhepatitisday.org/. Accessed July 8, 2024.
- What is Viral Hepatitis. World Hepatitis Alliance. https://www.worldhepatitisalliance.org/what-is-viral-hepatitis/. Accessed July 8, 2024.
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