Use of the Workbook Method to estimate the prevalence of chronic hepatitis B infections in the European Union and European Economic Area, 2022

BACKGROUNDUp-to-date estimates of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) prevalence in both general and key populations are challenging to obtain because of underdiagnosis, heterogeneous surveillance systems and underrepresentation of key populations.AIMWe aimed to test the Workbook Method to estimate chronic HBV prevalence in 2022 across the EU/EEA, by country and among men who have sex with men (MSM), people who inject drugs (PWID) and migrants.METHODSWe used the Robert Koch Institute's version of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Workbook Method to generate HBV prevalence estimates for each EU/EEA country and for MSM, PWID and migrants within each country. We combined data on population size and HBV prevalence for each population group gathered from scientific sources and reviewed by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control's hepatitis national contact points.RESULTSOverall, 0.7% (lower bound-upper bound: 0.5-0.9%) of the EU/EEA population (3,226,000 (2,397,000-4,149,000) individuals) were estimated to be living with HBV in 2022. National HBV prevalence ranged from 0.1% (0.1-1.0%) to 3.1% (2.8-3.3%). Prevalence estimates varied from 0.8% (0.5-1.0%) to 10.5% (9.3-11.9%) for migrants, < 0.1% to 8.7% (lower and upper bounds not available) for PWID and from < 0.1% (< 0.1- < 0.1%) to 10.5% (10.2-10.8%) for MSM.DISCUSSIONDespite limitations, including the inability to address overlapping populations, these estimates confirm substantial chronic HBV prevalence in the EU/EEA, with considerable variation between countries and population groups. This relatively straightforward method offers an alternative means of generating HBV prevalence estimates.

Auteur(s) : Canabarro Ana Paula Finatto, Duffell Erika, Hansson Disa, Dudareva Sandra, Seyler Thomas, Niehus Rene, Ngangro Ndeindo Ndeikoundam, El-Khatib Ziad, Plettinckx Els, Mortgat Laure, Tyufekchieva Mariya, Theophanous Fani, Němeček Vratislav, Malý Marek, Wessman Maria, Aavik Hanna Maria, Brouard Cécile, Zimmermann Ruth, Paraskevis Dimitrios, Nikolopoulou Georgia, Molnár Zsuzsanna, Kozma Emese, Murphy Niamh, Tosti Maria Elena, Konova Šarlote, Walser-Domjan Esther, Hübschen Judith, Seguin-Devaux Carole, Melillo Tanya, de Coul Eline Op, Woudenberg Tom, Whittaker Robert, Stępień Małgorzata, Rosińska Magdalena, Veríssimo Vítor Cabral, Marinho Rui Tato, Hernando Victoria, Diaz Asuncion, Axelsson Maria, Nordahl Marie, Pericoli Filippo

Année de publication : 2026

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