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. 2023 Jul;28(30):2200738.
doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2023.28.30.2200738.

Estimates of hepatitis B virus prevalence among general population and key risk groups in EU/EEA/UK countries: a systematic review

Sandra Bivegete  1   2 , Anna L McNaughton  1 , Adam Trickey  1 , Zak Thornton  1 , Becky Scanlan  1 , Aaron G Lim  1   2 , Lina Nerlander  3 , Hannah Fraser  1   2 , Josephine G Walker  1 , Matthew Hickman  1   2 , Peter Vickerman  1   2 , Helen Johnson  3 , Erika Duffell  3 , Ellen Brooks-Pollock  1   2 , Hannah Christensen  1   2
Affiliations

Estimates of hepatitis B virus prevalence among general population and key risk groups in EU/EEA/UK countries: a systematic review

Sandra Bivegete et al. Euro Surveill. 2023 Jul.

Abstract

BackgroundThe burden of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) varies across the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA).AimWe aimed to update the 2017 HBV prevalence estimates in EU/EEA countries and the United Kingdom for 2018 to 2021.MethodsWe undertook a systematic review, adding to HBV prevalence estimates from an existing (2005-2017) database. Databases were searched for original English-language research articles including HBV surface antigen prevalence estimates among the general population, pregnant women, first-time blood donors (FTB), men who have sex with men (MSM), migrants and people in prison. Country experts contributed grey literature data. Risk of bias was assessed using a quality assessment framework.FindingsThe update provided 147 new prevalence estimates across the region (updated total n = 579). Median HBV prevalence in the general population was 0.5% and the highest was 3.8% (Greece). Among FTB, the highest prevalence was 0.8% (Lithuania). Estimates among pregnant women were highest in Romania and Italy (5.1%). Among migrants, the highest estimate was 31.7% (Spain). Relative to 2017 estimates, median prevalence among pregnant women decreased by 0.5% (to 0.3%) and increased by 0.9% (to 5.8%) among migrants. Among MSM, the highest estimate was 3.4% (Croatia). Prevalence among people in prison was highest in Greece (8.3%) and the median prevalence increased by 0.6% (to 2.1%).ConclusionsThe HBV prevalence is low in the general population and confined to risk populations in most European countries with some exceptions. Screening and treatment should be targeted to people in prison and migrants.

Keywords: Epidemiology; hepatitis B Virus; prevalence; risk groups; systematic review.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: JGW & PV have received unrestricted research grants from Gilead Sciences, unrelated to this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Prisma flow diagram for the systematic review of hepatitis B virus prevalence in the general population and key populations, EU/EEA/UK, 2018–2021
Figure 2
Figure 2
Hepatitis B virus prevalence estimates in sentinel populations, EU/EEA/UK, for studies published in 2005–2021 (n = 439 studies)
Figure 3
Figure 3
Hepatitis B virus prevalence estimates in key risk populations, including people in prison, men who have sex with men and migrants, EU/EEA/UK, 2005–2021 (n = 140 studies)
Figure 4
Figure 4
Weighted average prevalence estimates in different population groups, by country, EU/EEA/UK, 2005–2021 (n = 486)
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