New Hepatitis B Mapping Report Released on World Cancer Day.
For the
first time, national datasets are used to indicate the current level of
diagnosis, monitoring and treatment, as well as vaccination rates and outcomes
of infection.
The second
national report to be produced from Hepatitis B Mapping project has found that
only 57 per cent of people living with hepatitis B have been diagnosed.
Alarmingly, only 13 per cent are receiving guideline-based care.
“There are now
over 220,000 Australians living with chronic hepatitis B,” said Associate
Professor Benjamin Cowie, one of the report’s authors.
“Without
appropriate management and treatment, up to a quarter of these people will
develop advanced liver disease and/or liver cancer.”
Liver cancer
is now the fastest growing cause of cancer death in Australia. According to the
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, it also has one of the lowest
survival rates.
In 2014 the
Australian Government released its National Hepatitis B Strategy 2014-2017. The
Strategy set clear targets for diagnosis, monitoring, treatment, access to
care, and immunisation.
“The
national hepatitis B strategy sets a target to increase the proportion of
people living with chronic hepatitis B who are receiving antiviral treatment to
15 per cent. It’s currently five per cent. Increasing uptake of treatment is a
means to achieving a significant and sustained reduction in mortality
attributable to advanced liver disease and liver cancer.”
The report
serves as a benchmark against which progress in achieving the national
priorities can be assessed. It provides detailed information at a national,
state/territory and local area.
The first national hepatitis B mapping report
highlighted the geographically uneven distribution of chronic hepatitis B
across Australia, outlining the areas of Australia where the need for
systematic responses to hepatitis B is greatest.
“As the priority populations affected by chronic hepatitis B are subject
to broader health disparities, the report allows for awareness and intervention
campaigns to be targeted in the most efficient and appropriate ways. Our aim is
for it to be used for planning public health and clinical responses which can
reverse the rising burden of hepatitis B related liver cancer nationally.” said A/Professor Cowie.
Future
updates to the report will be used to monitor and evaluate the progress of
Australia’s response to hepatitis B.
The National Hepatitis B Mapping Reports are the result of a partnership
between the Australasian Society for HIV Medicine (ASHM) and the Victorian
Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL) at the Doherty Institute.
Funding was from the Australia Government Department of Health.