Hepatitis deaths set to rise

Early detection crucial, says report

MORE than 1000 people could lose their lives in the next 10 years if hepatitis care and treatment rates do not improve.

The scary statistic, from the Viral Hepatitis Mapping Report, comes amid calls for changes to be made to current treatment delivery plans and an overall better model of care.

The report found access to treatment and uptake of care were two of the biggest barriers sufferers faced — while general education and stigma also played a role.

It also showed those living with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) were at the greatest risk of not receiving adequate care and predicted more than 1700 people could die of CHB and related illnesses, such as liver cancer, by 2030 if changes are not made.

There was also a 41 per cent drop in the number of people tested for the disease in Victoria in April and May.

And while this was likely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, pre-virus numbers show those already diagnosed with the hepatitis were failing to meet their recommended check-up guidelines.

This included less than half of people living with CHB undergoing further testing to assess their disease status and only 11 per cent of people meeting their regular check-up and monitoring targets.

To mark World Hepatitis Day on Tuesday, the Doherty Institute and Cancer Council Victoria are urging those living with or at risk of the disease to better look after their health.

Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Viral Hepatitis at the Doherty Institute, Professor Benjamin Cowie, said it was vital sufferers continue to access essential care. “We cannot allow ourselves to accept the decreasing levels of diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of hepatitis B,” Prof Cowie said.

“While many lives have already been saved with current levels of treatment, so much more can, and must be done,” Prof Cowie said.

“We need to fundamentally shift our approach to providing care to people living with CHB and encourage at-risk communities to prioritise hepatitis B as a health concern. Early diagnosis and monitoring of hepatitis B are essential to save lives.”

At the end of 2016, there were an estimated 230,034 people with CHB in Australia. A further 57,000 Victorians were believed to be living with hepatitis B, with only half aware of their condition.