Croatian Medical Journal
Volume 57, Issue 5, 2016, Pages 442-456

Are the testing needs of key European populations affected by hepatitis B and hepatitis C being addressed? A scoping review of testing studies in Europe (Review) (Open Access)

Lazarus J.V.* , Sperle I. , Spina A. , Rockstroh J.K.
  • a CHIP, Department of Infectious Diseases, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark, Barcelona Institute of Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
  • b CHIP, Department of Infectious Diseases, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
  • c Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), Vienna, Austria
  • d Department of Medicine I, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany

Abstract

Aim To investigate whether or not key populations affected by hepatitis B and hepatitis C are being tested sufficiently for these diseases throughout the European region. Methods We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE for studies on HBV and HCV testing in the 53 Member States of the World Health Organization European Region following PRISMA criteria. Results 136 English-language studies from 24 countries published between January 2007 and June 2013 were found. Most studies took place in 6 countries: France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. 37 studies (27%) addressed HBV, 46 (34%) HCV, and 53 (39%) both diseases. The largest categories of study populations were people who use drugs (18%) and health care patient populations (17%). Far fewer studies focused on migrants, prison inmates, or men who have sex with men. Conclusions The overall evidence base on HBV and HCV testing has considerable gaps in terms of the countries and populations represented and validity of testing uptake data. More research is needed throughout Europe to guide efforts to provide testing to certain key populations.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

Netherlands Germany mass screening Europe France human epidemiology prisoner men who have sex with men Humans migrant male Review health care United Kingdom world health organization Italy hepatitis B hepatitis C data extraction
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84998567509&doi=10.3325%2fcmj.2016.57.442&partnerID=40&md5=2c5d286da2bdc7363a1df6089dee8c8e
DOI: 10.3325/cmj.2016.57.442
ISSN: 03539504
Cited by: 10
Original Language: English