Diagnosed Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B and Delta Virus in Italy in 2024: An Estimation From a National Real‐World Database
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Hepatitis B (HBV) and Hepatitis Delta virus (HDV) infection have undergone significant changes in Italy over the past few decades, but reliable and updated prevalence of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and Delta (CHD) data are lacking. The aim of the study was to describe the epidemiology of CHB and CHD in Italy in 2024, based on real-world data. METHODS: The number of patients with a healthcare expenditure exemption for CHB (016.070.32) and CHD (016.070.33) was obtained from 21 Regional Health Authorities. To understand how many CHB or CHD patients did not have these specific exemptions, a survey was conducted in 30 Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases Units across the country. RESULTS: Health Authorities data reported 67 514 and 5216 subjects with an exemption for CHB and for CHD, respectively. However, among 6775 CHB and 504 CHD patients, only 60.3% and 55.7% of them had the specific exemption, respectively. Based on these results, we estimated 111 960 (95% CI: 109 780-114 240) CHB and 9360 (95% CI: 8690-10 150) CHD patients, with a prevalence of 0.22% and 0.019% of the adult overall population. Moreover, anti-HDV prevalence was 7.7% from this cohort. CONCLUSION: Our study provides a plausible estimate of the current number of adult patients diagnosed with CHB and CHD in Italy and may be considered the basis for decision-making health policies.
Source: Liver International
DOI: 10.1111/liv.70336
Authors: Alessandro Loglio, Ivan Gardini, Massimiliano Conforti, Marco Bartoli, Francesco Silvia, Carmine Coppola, Luchino Chessa, Gianluca Svegliati‐Baroni, Laura Schiadà, Ivan Gentile, Biagio Pinchera, Maurizia Rossana Brunetto, Piero Colombatto, Alessio Aghemo, Stella De Nicola, Pierluigi Toniutto, Edoardo Giovanni Giannini, Antonio Colecchia, Dante Romagnoli, Loredana Sarmati, Francesca Romana Ponziani, Filomena Morisco, Calogero Cammà, Giuseppe Cabibbo, Pietro Lampertico, Elisabetta Degasperi, Pietro Invernizzi, Antonio Ciaccio, Francesco Paolo Russo, Antonio Massimo Ippolito, Grazia Anna Niro, Natalia Terreni, Gerardo Nardone, Alba Rocco, Maria D'Antò, David Sacerdoti, Donatella Ieluzzi, Alessia Ciancio, Adriano Pellicelli, Alessandro Federico, Loredana Simone, Vincenzo Messina, Ernesto Claar, Valerio Rosato, Gianpiero D'Offizi, Paolo Caraceni, Paolo Muratori, Cinzia Giaccherini, Stefano Fagiuoli, Mauro Viganò
Institutions: Ospedale Papa Giovanni XXIII, University of Cagliari, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria delle Marche, Federico II University Hospital, University of Naples Federico II, University of Pisa, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Pisana, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, University of Udine, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, University of Genoa, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Modena, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Agostino Gemelli University Polyclinic, Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, University of Palermo, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milano-Bicocca, University of Padua, Azienda Ospedale - Università Padova, Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Ospedale Valduce, University of Verona, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata Verona, Azienda Ospedaliera Citta' della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Fondazione Ricerca Molinette, Azienda Ospedaliera San Camillo-Forlanini, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Arcispedale Sant'Anna, Istituto Nazionale per le Malattie Infettive Lazzaro Spallanzani, IRCCS Azienda Ospedliero-Universitaria di Bologna Policlinico di Sant'Orsola, University of Bologna, Ospedale G.B. Morgagni - L.Pierantoni, FROM – Fondazione per la Ricerca Ospedale di Bergamo ETS
Language: English
Topic: Hepatitis B Virus Studies
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,780
Funders: Pfizer, Gilead Sciences, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Università Degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emila, Università degli Studi di Milano, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Eisai, Università degli Studi di Genova, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Università di Bologna, Università degli Studi di Verona, Università di Pisa, Università degli Studi di Udine, Università degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Ipsen, Humanitas Research Hospital
OpenAlex ID: W4413988653