Epidemiological features of hepatitis B in the Russian Arctic

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B is an urgent medical and social problem in Russia.
 AIM: To determine the epidemiological features of the hepatitis B in the Russian Arctic.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS: We carried out a retrospective analysis of the incidence of hepatitis B (acute and chronic forms) in 9 Russian Arctic regions, 3 subarctic regions (Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug, Magadan Region, Kamchatka Territory) and Russian Federation in 19992019. We also studied the prevalence of chronic hepatitis B and vaccination data against hepatitis B in these territories.
 RESULTS: From 1999 to 2019 the incidence of acute hepatitis B in three subarctic regions decreased 166 times (from 66.5 to 0.4 per 100 thousand population), in the Arctic zone of 74.5 times (from 29.8 to 0.4 per 100 thousand population) and 73 times in Russia (from 43.8 to 0.6). The incidence of chronic hepatitis forms in the same period in the Arctic zone decreased by 8.6 times (from 140.1 to 16.3), 5.8 times in the subarctic regions (from 116.6 to 20.0) and 5.7 times in Russia (from 96.3 to 16.8). In 2018, the results of the prevalence of chronic hepatitis B in the Arctic zone (697.3) was higher than in Russia by 98% (352.1) and higher in the subarctic regions by 67% (588.6). Timely coverage of hepatitis vaccination in children aged 12 months in the Russian Federation, the Arctic zone and the subarctic regions is maintained at a high level (more than 90%) from 2004 in 2019. Coverage of children by vaccination to 17 years inclusive and adults up to 35 years on these territories also exceeded 90%.
 CONCLUSIONS: Vaccination against hepatitis B in the Russian Federation led to a significant decrease in the incidence of this infection in the Russian Arctic. High prevalence of infection indicates the need to continue the program of mass vaccination and the timely introduction of the first dose of vaccine newborns. To reduce the risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer, it is necessary to increase the availability of diagnosis of the disease and its possible outcomes in the Arctic regions and timely provision of antiviral treatment of all patients.