Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32106819›Full record

ArticleBMC infectious diseases2020

Eliminating viral hepatitis C in Belgium: the micro-elimination approach.

Dana Busschots, Samira Toghanian, Rob Bielen, Stina Salomonsson, Özgür M Koc, Greet Hendrickx, Michel Jadoul, Frederik Nevens, Etienne Sokal, Christian Brixko and 4 more

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC infectious diseases, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
2.7field-weighted citation impact, top 9% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 24 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors at 8 institutions in 3 countries.

Dana BusschotsFaculty of Health and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium.
Samira ToghanianMSD, Centre of Observational Real-world Evidence (CORE), Stockholm, Sweden.
Rob BielenFaculty of Health and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium.
Stina SalomonssonMSD, Centre of Observational Real-world Evidence (CORE), Stockholm, Sweden.
Özgür M KocFaculty of Health and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium.
Greet HendrickxViral Hepatitis Prevention Board, Centre for the Evaluation of Vaccination, Vaccine & Infectious Diseases Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
Michel JadoulService de Néphrologie, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
Frederik NevensDepartment of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospitals KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Etienne SokalService Gastroentérologie Hépatologie Pédiatrique, Cliniques Universitaires St. Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
Christian BrixkoDepartment of Hepato-Gastroenterology and Digestive Oncology, CHR Citadelle, Liège, Belgium.
Kathelijne PeerlinckDivision of Cardiovascular Disorders, Haemophilia Center, University Hospitals KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Ludwig ApersDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
Geert RobaeysFaculty of Health and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium.
Jeffrey V LazarusBarcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. Jeffrey.lazarus@isglobal.org.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9618-2299
Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg · BECliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc · BEKU Leuven · BEBarcelona Institute for Global Health · ESCentre hospitalier régional de la Citadelle · BEInstituut voor Tropische Geneeskunde · BEMaastricht University Medical Centre · NLUniversity of Antwerp · BE

Funding

MSD n/a
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHepatitis C virus is one of the leading causes of chronic liver disease and liver-related deaths worldwide. The estimated prevalence of chronic hepatitis C viral infection among the general Belgian population was 0.57% (n = 64,000) in 2015. Although Belgium has had a 'Hepatitis C Plan' since 2014, elimination efforts are unclear. This study employs the best available data and modelling estimates to define the burden of hepatitis C viral infection among key subgroups in Belgium, identify information gaps and propose potential approaches to screening, linkage to care and treatment, and cure.

methodsWe examined the peer-reviewed and grey literature since 2012 for data on the prevalence of hepatitis C viral infection in Belgium in key subgroups identified by national experts and in the literature. Ultimately, this research is primarily based on data provided by the key stakeholders themselves due to a lack of reliable data in the literature. Based on this, we modelled the treatment rates required to reach elimination of hepatitis C in several subgroups.

resultsEleven potential subgroups were identified. There were no data available for two subgroups: generational cohorts and men who have sex with men. In six subgroups, fewer than 3000 people were reported or estimated to have hepatitis C infection. Migrants and people who inject drugs were the most affected subgroups, and children were the least affected subgroup. Only two subgroups are on target to achieve elimination by 2030: patients living with haemophilia and transplant recipients.

conclusionsRemoving Belgian treatment reimbursement restrictions in January 2019 was a big step towards eliminating HCV. In addition, increasing surveillance, including with a national registry, treatment prescription by other health-care providers and availability of treatment in local pharmacies are central to improving the current situation and getting on track to reach the 2030 WHO hepatitis C elimination targets in Belgium.

Indexed as

AdolescentAdultAntiviral AgentsBelgiumChildChild, PreschoolDisease EradicationHealth PolicyHemophilia AHepatitis CHomosexuality, MaleHumansInfantMaleModels, TheoreticalPrisonersAntiviral AgentsBelgiumDisease eliminationHealth policyHepatitis CTreatment

Identifiers

PMID32106819
PMCPMC7045456
OpenAlexW3012573025

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.