The burden of acute hepatitis C from 1990 to 2019 at the global, regional, and national level

Abstract Aims Global healthcare costs are significantly increased by acute hepatitis C. In this study, our goal was to assess the prevalence, incidence, and years lived with disability (YLDs) of acute hepatitis C globally in terms of numbers, age-standardized rates (ASRs), and percent changes. Methods Data on acute hepatitis C were acquired from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019. Numbers, ASRs, and percent changes of prevalence, incidence, and YLDs’ rates per 100,000 population were systematically analysed using the GBD 2019 modelled data. Results In 2019, acute hepatitis C numbers were 636,315.62 (95% uncertainty interval (UI): 560,704.41–736,991.98), 5,514,735.38 (95% UI: 4,859,438.18–6,387,263.87) and 8914.5 (95% UI: 4256.87–17539.11) for the point prevalence, incidence, and YLDs, respectively. The ASRs were 8.53 (95% UI: 7.54–9.88), 73.93 (95% UI: 65.33–85.60), and 0.12 (95% UI: 0.06–0.24) per 100,000 population for the point prevalence, incidence, and YLDs, respectively. From 1990 to 2019, the percent changes in the age-standardized prevalence, incidence, and YLDs rates decreased. Moreover, Central Sub-Saharan Africa, Central Asia, and Western Sub-Saharan Africa had the highest age-standardized prevalence, incidence, and YLDs rates in 2019. Notably, China exhibited the largest decrease in percentage change in the ASR prevalence, incidence, and YLDs from 1990 to 2019. Additionally, Egypt, Mongolia, and Angola had the highest burden of acute hepatitis C from 1990 to 2019. Conclusions Globally, the burden of acute hepatitis C has decreased significantly in many countries over the last 30 years. However, it continues to increase in low-income countries. Therefore, more international cooperation and multifaceted and multisectoral actions are required for the better monitoring of acute hepatitis C.