Kandeel Amr, Fahim Manal, Abukamar Shimaa, BahaaEldin Hala, Abuelsood Hanaa, Samy Sahar, Deghedy Ola, Sheta Amany, Naguib Amel, El Guindy Nancy, Youssef Amr, Kamel Reham, Afifi Salma, El-Kassas Moahmed, Abdelghaffar Khaled
Preventive Sector, Ministry of Health and Population, Cairo, Egypt.
Central Public Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health and Population, Cairo, Egypt.
Liver Int. 2024 Apr;44(4):955-965. doi: 10.1111/liv.15843. Epub 2024 Jan 30.
Viral hepatitis C (HCV) and B (HBV) were at the top of Egypt's most significant public health challenges, with an estimated 14.7% of its population having antibodies to HCV in 2008. Egypt issued an ambitious action plan in 2014 to eliminate viral hepatitis through strengthening infection control and improving patient care. In 2018, an extensive HCV mass screening campaign was conducted for the entire country's population with treating more than 4 million patients with antivirals. This study aimed to evaluate the current prevalence of viral hepatitis in Egypt after all these efforts.
A cross-sectional household cluster survey was conducted in all 27 Egyptian governorates to obtain a representative sample of Egypt's population. Subjects aged 1-70 years were interviewed using a standardised questionnaire that included demographics, viral hepatitis knowledge, previous infection and risk factors data. Laboratory testing was performed for all subjects for anti-HCV and HBsAg using chemiluminescence. Subjects positive for anti-HCV were further tested for HCV-RNA by RT-PCR. Prevalence rates were calculated by demographic groups and compared to the demographic health survey 2015 results.
Of 20 881 subjects interviewed, 48.8% were males, 20.2% were children <15 years of age, and 53.7% were residents of rural areas. Of all subjects, 92 (0.4%) were HCV-infected, 1577 (7.6%) were anti-HCV positive and 177 (0.8%) were HBV-chronically infected, including one patient who had mixed HBV and HCV current infection. The prevalence of HCV-current and HBV chronic infections decreased by 93% and 20%, respectively, compared to 2015.
Egypt achieved the elimination of the viral hepatitis goal. To maintain low rates of viral hepatitis, community health education, in addition to maintaining infection control and blood safety programs, is essential.
丙型病毒性肝炎（HCV）和乙型病毒性肝炎（HBV）是埃及最重大的公共卫生挑战之一，2008年估计该国14.7%的人口抗HCV呈阳性。埃及于2014年发布了一项雄心勃勃的行动计划，通过加强感染控制和改善患者护理来消除病毒性肝炎。2018年，针对全国人口开展了广泛的HCV大规模筛查运动，超过400万患者接受了抗病毒治疗。本研究旨在评估在所有这些努力之后埃及目前病毒性肝炎的流行情况。
在埃及所有27个省进行了一项横断面家庭整群调查，以获取埃及人口的代表性样本。对年龄在1至70岁的受试者使用标准化问卷进行访谈，问卷包括人口统计学、病毒性肝炎知识、既往感染和危险因素数据。使用化学发光法对所有受试者进行抗HCV和HBsAg的实验室检测。抗HCV呈阳性的受试者进一步通过逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）检测HCV-RNA。按人口统计学分组计算患病率，并与2015年人口健康调查结果进行比较。
在接受访谈的20881名受试者中，48.8%为男性，20.2%为15岁以下儿童，53.7%为农村居民。在所有受试者中，92人（0.4%）感染HCV，1577人（7.6%）抗HCV呈阳性，177人（0.8%）慢性感染HBV，其中1例患者同时感染HBV和HCV。与2015年相比，目前HCV感染和HBV慢性感染的患病率分别下降了93%和20%。
埃及实现了消除病毒性肝炎的目标。为维持低病毒性肝炎发病率，除了维持感染控制和血液安全计划外，社区健康教育至关重要。
