Case management in HCV infected people who inject drugs in Belgium

Abstract

As you all know, Hepatitis C is still one of the leading causes of chronic liver disease, with 130-150 million people infected globally according to the WHO. The prevalence in Belgium is low in the general population, and the last consensus, based on a study of the Knowledge center in 2012, states that is estimated around 0,87% (HCV antibodies). In this study, it was also estimated that approximately 22,900 were diagnosed with HCV, with nearly 3000 new diagnoses annually. As you can see on the figure: there is a peak in diagnosed men and women between the ages 25 and 60. This distribution can be explained by the ways of transmission, which is by blood-blood contact (eg: blood transfusions, or needle sharing in drug use). As risk-seeking behaviour is more prevalent in men, this can also explain the higher prevalence in men, and at younger age.