Current challenges and possible solutions to improve access to care and treatment for hepatitis C infection in Vietnam: a systematic review

BMC Infectious Diseases

Research Article

Nguyen Van Vinh Chau¹  Ngoc Nghiem My²  Jeremy Day³  Alessandra Berto³  Guy E. Thwaites³  Stephen Baker⁴  Thomas C. Darton⁵ 

[1] Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam;Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Vietnam Wellcome Trust Major Overseas Programme, 764 Vo Van Kiet, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam;Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Vietnam Wellcome Trust Major Overseas Programme, 764 Vo Van Kiet, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam;Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK;Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Vietnam Wellcome Trust Major Overseas Programme, 764 Vo Van Kiet, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam;Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK;The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK;Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Vietnam Wellcome Trust Major Overseas Programme, 764 Vo Van Kiet, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam;Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK;

关键词: Hepatitis C virus;    Treatment access;    Low and middle-income countries;    Epidemiology;    Vietnam;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12879-017-2360-6

 received in 2016-11-15, accepted in 2017-03-29,  发布年份 2017

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundHepatitis C infection is a major public health concern in low- and middle-income countries where an estimated 71.1 million individuals are living with chronic infection. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently released new guidance for hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment programs, which include improving the access to new direct-acting antiviral agents. In Vietnam, a highly populated middle-income country, the seroprevalence of HCV infection is approximately 4% and multiple genotypes co-circulate in the general population. Here we review what is currently known regarding the epidemiology of HCV in Vietnam and outline options for reducing the significant burden of morbidity and mortality in our setting.MethodsWe performed a systematic review of the currently available literature to evaluate what has been achieved to date with efforts to control HCV infection in Vietnam.ResultsThis search retrieved few publications specific to Vietnam indicating a significant gap in baseline epidemiological and public health data. Key knowledge gaps identified included an understanding of the prevalence in specific high-risk groups, characterization of circulating HCV genotypes in the population and likely response to treatment, and the extent to which HCV treatment is available, accessed and utilized.ConclusionsWe conclude that there is an urgent need to perform up to date assessments of HCV disease burden in Vietnam, especially in high-risk groups, in whom incidence is high and cross infection with multiple genotypes is likely to be frequent. Coordinating renewed surveillance measures with forthcoming HCV treatment studies should initiate the traction required to achieve the WHO goal of eliminating HCV as a public health threat by 2030, at least in this region.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s). 2017