Spain is at the forefront of eliminating hepatitis C and faces challenges with B and D

This Sunday, July 28th, we celebrate 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 eliminating it, with significant progress being made. Some of these, as Fran Franco Alvarez de Luna, a spokesperson for SEIMC, notes, “are the inclusion of comprehensive diagnostics for chronic hepatitis in a single assay; and one-step diagnostic strategies for the detection of antibodies and Hepatitis C virus RNA or reflex diagnostics of hepatitis Delta in patients with hepatitis B virus.” However, much remains to be done, as there are other ongoing problems associated with hepatitis B and D.

Hepatitis C

Over the past decade, Spain has implemented effective detection and treatment of hepatitis C, occupying a prominent place worldwide. The introduction of direct-acting antiviral drugs has transformed treatment, allowing a 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 the coordinator noted Alliance to Eliminate Viral Hepatitis in Spain (AEHVE), Javier García-Samaniego, “Every year in Spain there are 188 deaths due to causes related to hepatitis C and we cannot be satisfied: this is almost 10% of road deaths and, like these, they are preventable and avoidable.”

There is still room for improvement, as it is assumed that The number of people with undetected active hepatitis C in Spain is 15,856, and with active hepatitis C is 54,676. In total, there are about 70,532 people in our country who will need to be diagnosed and then treated. In addition, 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 problemVaccination is effective in preventing new infections, but management of chronic cases requires ongoing care and access to appropriate treatments.

Added to it hepatitis Dwhich is less well known but is of particular concern because of its complexity. The virus can only infect people who already have HBV, making the disease more severe and difficult to treat. Hepatitis D can lead to more rapid progression to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and even death.

But, as pointed out Franco Alvarez de Luna, From SEIMC, “In terms of treatment advances, the only drug approved in Europe for the treatment of hepatitis Delta has recently been introduced into the NHS, representing a significant advance in the treatment of the most aggressive and serious forms of hepatitis Delta viral hepatitis.”

Screening and early diagnosis

Screening and early diagnosis are essential for effective control of viral hepatitis. Early detection of carriers of the virus allows treatment to be initiated before the disease progresses to more serious stages. That is why it is essential to implement systematic and accessible screening programs, especially for high-risk groups, to identify needs and barriers.s achieve elimination of hepatitis C in different health care environments and mobilize all involved agents to activate new strategies.

To this end, as Dr. Manuel Romero, President of AEEH, recalls: “The National Liver Health Plan, which“which was recently presented, defines six areas of work, one of which is viral hepatitis, with the elimination of hepatitis C being one of its main goals.”

“Hepatitis C is a paradigm in the history of medicine. There is nothing like this, because this virus was discovered in the late 80s and became the main cause of liver disease in the West, cirrhosis, indications for transplantation and liver cancer. In these 35 years, we have managed to turn the tide and we are on the verge of eliminating the disease. There is no similar example in any other field of medicine,” says Dr. Romero.

It should be noted that curing hepatitis C has reduced the number of liver transplants by 84% and, consequently, its many consequences for patients, ranging from “organ rejection or infections to changes in quality of life due to changes in habits and continued medication,” they point out. FNET.

But they remain Problems B and DThis is why Spain is making significant efforts to improve access to diagnostic tests and raise awareness of these diseases. Collaboration between health facilities, communities and health workers is vital to 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 of utmost importance to celebrate the achievements made in the fight against viral hepatitis. Elimination of Hepatitis C and the Problems Faced with B and DOnly by focusing on screening and early diagnosis, and continuing to innovate, can we move towards a future without viral hepatitis.