This Sunday, July 28, is World Hepatitis Day, a date that highlights Spain’s leadership in eliminating hepatitis C, in line with the goals set by the World Health Organization (WHO) for 2030.
Thanks to the coordinated efforts of the health care system, public health organizations and advances in treatment, we are close to achieve its elimination by making significant progress.
Some of them, as Fran Franco Alvarez de Luna, a SEIMC spokesman, notes, “represent the integration of a complex diagnosis of chronic hepatitis into a single analytical study; as well as one-step diagnostic strategies for antibody detection and RNA of the hepatitis C virus or reflex diagnostics of hepatitis Delta in patients with the hepatitis B virus.
However, much remains to be done as there are other ongoing problems associated with hepatitis B and D.
Hepatitis C
In the last decade, Spain has implemented effective programmes for the detection and treatment of hepatitis C. occupying a prominent place throughout the world.
The introduction of direct-acting antiviral drugs has transformed treatment, allowing cure in most cases. Access to these treatments, coupled with awareness and screening campaigns, is critical to reducing the prevalence of the disease in the population.
However, as Javier García-Samaniego, coordinator of the Alliance to Eliminate Viral Hepatitis in Spain (AEHVE), recalls, “with 188 deaths each year in Spain from causes related to hepatitis C, We cannot be complacent, they account for almost 10% of road deaths and, like them, they are preventable and avoidable.
There is still a long way to go, as the number of people with undetected active hepatitis C in Spain is estimated at 15,856, and with active hepatitis C at 54,676, i.e. about 70,532 people who will first need to be diagnosed and then treated, In our country. In addition to this, there are other problems that we have to deal with in connection with viral hepatitis.
Hepatitis B and D
Despite advances in the fight against hepatitis C, HBV remains a serious problem. Vaccination is effective in preventing new infections, but management of chronic cases requires ongoing care and access to appropriate treatments.
Added to this is hepatitis D, which, although less well known, is of particular concern due to its complexity. This virus can only infect people who already have HBV, which makes the disease worse and more difficult to treat. Hepatitis D can lead to faster progression to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and even death.
But as Franco Alvarez de Luna of SEIMC points out, “in terms of advances in treatment in recent times, The only approved treatment in Europe has been included in the National Health System. for the treatment of delta hepatitis, which represents a significant advance in the treatment of the most aggressive and severe form of viral hepatitis.”
Screening and early diagnosis
Screening and early diagnosis are essential for effective treatment of viral hepatitis. Early detection of carriers of the virus allows treatment to begin before the disease progresses to more serious stages.
That’s why It is essential to implement systematic and accessible screening programmes. especially for high-risk groups, identify needs and barriers to hepatitis C elimination in different health care settings and mobilize all stakeholders to activate new strategies.
To this end, as Dr. Manuel Romero, President of the AEEH, recalls, “The National Liver Health Plan, which was recently presented, defines 6 areas of work, one of which is viral hepatitis, with The elimination of hepatitis C is one of its main goals.
“Hepatitis C is a paradigm in the history of medicine. There is nothing like it because This virus was discovered in the late 1980s and has become a leading cause of liver disease. In the West, it is cirrhosis of the liver, an indication for transplantation and a cause of liver cancer. Over the past 35 years, we have been able to turn the tide and are on the verge of eliminating this disease. There is no similar example in any other field of medicine,” says Dr. Romero.
It should be noted that the cure of hepatitis C has made it possible to reduce the number of liver transplant operations by 84% and, as a consequence, its numerous consequences for patients, ranging from organ rejection or infections leading to changes in quality of life “due to changes in habits and constant medication use,” FNETH points out.
But problems with B and D remain, so major efforts are being made in Spain to improve access to diagnostic tests and raise awareness of these diseases.
Collaboration between health care institutions, local communities and health workers is vital. ensure that people are aware of their health status and can receive the necessary treatment in a timely manner.
Thus, on World Hepatitis Day, it is vital to celebrate the achievements made in eliminating hepatitis C and the challenges that must be faced with viruses B and D.
Only by focusing on screening and early diagnosis, and continuing to innovate, can we move towards a future without viral hepatitis.