Journal of Viral Hepatitis最新文献

{"title":"Linkage to Care, Retention in Care and Treatment Uptake Among Patients Diagnosed With Chronic Hepatitis B in Norway, 2008–2022","authors":"Beatriz Valcarcel Salamanca,&nbsp;Asgeir Johannessen,&nbsp;Olav Dalgard,&nbsp;Robert Whittaker","doi":"10.1111/jvh.70089","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvh.70089","url":null,"abstract":"<p>People living with chronic hepatitis B infection (PLWHB) need life-long care to monitor liver health and treatment need. Data on clinical follow-up for PLWHB are essential to monitor the health system response to this infection. We used linked national registry data to calculate the proportion of diagnosed PLWHB in Norway linked to specialist care (LTC), treated and retained in specialist or primary care (RIC) from 2008 to 2022. We described the outcomes by time, age, sex, region of residence, place of birth and residence status. Using log-binomial regression, we explored how these factors were associated with ever being LTC and being RIC during the last 12 months of the study period. Among 10,542 diagnosed PLWHB, 8301 (79%) had ever been LTC and 2454 (23%) had received treatment. In the first 2 years after LTC, 64% were still RIC. At the end of the study period, 4476 (50%) of 8979 PLWHB still resident in Norway had been RIC in the last 12 months. PLWHB born outside Norway had a higher probability of LTC (relative risk [RR]: 1.24; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.19–1.29) and RIC (RR: 1.67; 95% CI 1.53–1.84). Other significant associations with smaller effect sizes included a higher probability of LTC among PLWHB aged &lt; 25 years and a lower probability of RIC when diagnosed from 2010 to 2013 or aged ≥ 65 years. The management of diagnosed PLWHB in Norway is suboptimal. Our study provides a framework for how key performance indicators can be monitored in ongoing national surveillance.</p>","PeriodicalId":17762,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Viral Hepatitis","volume":"32 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvh.70089","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145111283","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Longitudinal Profiles of Cytokines and Chemokines in Self-Limiting Hepatitis E","authors":"Pooja Bhatia,&nbsp;Aas Mohd,&nbsp;Harshita Katiyar,&nbsp;Amit Goel,&nbsp;Rakesh Aggarwal,&nbsp;Naga Suresh Veerapu","doi":"10.1111/jvh.70088","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jvh.70088","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Hepatitis E virus infection typically results in a self-limited acute viral hepatitis (AVH-E), which is rapidly cleared by the host immune response. In this longitudinal study, temporal cytokine and chemokine profiles were analysed in AVH-E patients' sera using a multiplex immunoassay. HEV RNA became undetectable between 9 and 18 days, with a median of 13 days, occurring 3–20 days after symptom onset. In the AVH-E group, IFN-γ peaked significantly around days 6–9, which is prior to the HEV RNA clearance period, and declined during days 9–18. IL-2, IL-10, and TNF-α increased significantly during days 15–20, while IL-1β and IL-6 showed peak levels. CCL3, CXCL6, CXCL9, CXCL10 and MIF were significantly higher in the AVH-E group than in the healthy controls; CCL2 and CCL20 peaked non-significantly during days 12–17. CCL3, CXCL6, CXCL9 and CXCL10 levels were lower in the AVH-E group than in the AVH-B group. Compared to the AVH-B group and healthy controls, the AVH-E group showed distinct immune signatures. These findings highlight coordinated cytokine and chemokine responses during HEV infection and provide insights into the immunopathogenesis of self-limiting hepatitis E.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":17762,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Viral Hepatitis","volume":"32 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145075511","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"U-Shaped Relationship Between CT-Measured Liver-To-Spleen Volume Ratio and Mortality in HBV-ACLF Patients","authors":"Libo Yan,&nbsp;Man Yuan,&nbsp;Mao Su,&nbsp;Kunping Cui,&nbsp;Xiangnan Teng,&nbsp;Fang Yuan,&nbsp;Lang Bai","doi":"10.1111/jvh.70076","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jvh.70076","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF) is a life-threatening condition with high short-term mortality, making early prognosis crucial. The liver-to-spleen volume ratio (LSVR) provides important prognostic information but is not included in current tools. This study evaluated the link between LSVR from computed tomography and short-term mortality in HBV-ACLF patients. The study included 278 patients, divided into five groups based on LSVR quintiles. The main outcome was 28-day mortality, with a secondary focus on 90-day mortality. Multivariable Cox regression and restricted cubic splines were used to analyse the LSVR-mortality relationship. Participants had a mean age of 48 years, 82.7% were male, with 28- and 90-day mortality rates of 23.4% and 31.3%, respectively. After adjusting for covariates, the risk of 28-day mortality was elevated by 553% (OR 6.53, 95% CI 1.86–23) in the highest quintile of LSVR (Q5 ≥ 3.6) and by 343% (OR 4.43, 95% CI 1.14–17.16) in the lowest quintile (Q1 ≤ 1.6), as compared to the reference quintile (Q3 2.4–2.9). The curve-fitting results showed a U-shaped relationship between LSVR and the risk of 28-day mortality and 90-day mortality, with an infection point of 2.7. There is a U-shaped relationship between LSVR and mortality in HBV-ACLF patients. Higher or lower LSVR is associated with an increased risk of short-term mortality in HBV-ACLF patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":17762,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Viral Hepatitis","volume":"32 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12439450/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145069929","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence and Factors Associated With Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia","authors":"Gessessew Bugssa,&nbsp;Tilahun Teklehaymanot,&nbsp;Girmay Medhin,&nbsp;Shevanti Nayagam,&nbsp;Asgeir Johannessen,&nbsp;Nega Berhe","doi":"10.1111/jvh.70077","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvh.70077","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a significant public health concern, particularly in low-income countries. This study investigates the prevalence and associated risk factors of HBV in Alamata district of Tigray region, northern Ethiopia, where the HBV vaccine was introduced in the childhood vaccination programme in 2007. A community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2019 to June 2020. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was measured using a rapid diagnostic test. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine the associations between socio-demographic, behavioural and health-related variables and HBV infection. A total of 1853 individuals (54.2% females) were included in this study. The age ranged from 5 to 88 years, and the largest age group was from 5 to 14 years (32.0%). The overall HBV prevalence was 5.3% (95% confidence interval (CI) 4.3–6.3) with significant variability between age groups: 5–14 years 3.7%, 15–24 years 6.8%, 25–34 years 10.1%, 35–44 years 4.4%, 45–54 years 3.9% and 55 years and above 3.4%. Being in the 25–34 years age group (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 4.1, 95% CI: 1.1–16.2, P= 0.042), reporting multiple sexual partners (AOR 4.0, 95% CI: 1.02–15.4, P= 0.047) and family history of hepatitis B (AOR 3.1, 95% CI: 1.2–8.2, P= 0.024) were independently associated with HBV infection. The prevalence of HBV infection was high in this region, underscoring the necessity for targeted public health strategies aimed at reducing transmission rates. Of note, the HBV prevalence was significantly lower among children born after the introduction of the HBV vaccine.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":17762,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Viral Hepatitis","volume":"32 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145057824","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Peer-Delivered Outreach With Rapid Treatment Pathways for Hepatitis C Testing and Treatment Among Unhoused People","authors":"Gabriele Vojt,&nbsp;Philippe Bonnet,&nbsp;Jennifer Scott,&nbsp;Emma Hathorn,&nbsp;Lisa Ellis,&nbsp;Sally Bufton,&nbsp;David Mutimer,&nbsp;Ryan Buchanan,&nbsp;Leila Reid,&nbsp;Danny Morris,&nbsp;Ahmed Elsharkawy","doi":"10.1111/jvh.70085","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvh.70085","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This service evaluation describes the co-development of a peer-led rapid hepatitis C virus (HCV) pathway to reach unhoused people. A trained and qualified peer worker visited homeless shelters in West Midlands, England, setting up test and treatment events and collaborating with local services and healthcare staff who also attended the sites. The peer worker offered point of care HCV antibody and ribonucleic acid (RNA) testing for individuals at risk of HCV, peer education and support before and during treatment. Viraemic individuals were offered immediate treatment prescribed by local HCV clinical specialist nurses who attended the homeless shelters with the peer worker. Among the 140 tested individuals, 72 people (51.4%) were HCV antibody positive and 42 (30.0%) were HCV RNA positive. All participants had a history of injecting drug use. The majority were male (75.0%), with a mean age of 39 years and of white ethnicity (89.4%). Treatment uptake was 100.0%, and known treatment completion was 92.3%. Treatment uptake within 2 weeks was 57.1%. Findings suggest that the co-developed and peer-led HCV test and treat pathway is promising in case finding, testing and treating marginalised, unhoused people.</p>","PeriodicalId":17762,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Viral Hepatitis","volume":"32 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvh.70085","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145057822","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Identifying Adherence Trajectories in Chronic Hepatitis B: A Cluster-Based Approach to Long-Term Treatment Management","authors":"Lin Zhang,&nbsp;Huichun Ji,&nbsp;Suhua Pang,&nbsp;Youde Yan,&nbsp;Zhenjiang Zhang","doi":"10.1111/jvh.70068","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvh.70068","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study aimed to investigate the levels and longitudinal trajectories of medication adherence among patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), identify key psychosocial factors influencing adherence and provide evidence to inform strategies for optimising long-term treatment and enhancing patients' quality of life. A longitudinal study was conducted among CHB patients, 305 completing a 12-month follow-up. Medication adherence and psychosocial data were collected at baseline and at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. <i>K</i>-means cluster analysis was performed to identify distinct adherence patterns, and differences in psychosocial characteristics across clusters were analysed. Four adherence trajectories were identified: improvement, low adherence, decline and high adherence. Significant differences were observed among the groups in terms of medication adherence scores and psychosocial factors (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). Higher adherence was positively correlated with self-efficacy and social support, while lower adherence was associated with higher levels of perceived stigma and depression. Medication adherence among CHB patients exhibits distinct dynamic patterns, strongly influenced by psychosocial factors. Targeted interventions focusing on psychological support, stigma reduction and strengthening social support networks may improve adherence and ultimately enhance the quality of life for patients with chronic hepatitis B.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":17762,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Viral Hepatitis","volume":"32 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145038088","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"High Prevalence of Cirrhosis or Hepatocellular Carcinoma at Hepatitis Delta Infection Diagnosis Reflects Alarming Delays in Testing","authors":"Robert J. Wong,&nbsp;Zeyuan Yang,&nbsp;Joseph Lim,&nbsp;Janice H. Jou,&nbsp;Ramsey Cheung","doi":"10.1111/jvh.70086","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvh.70086","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Delays in timely diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis delta virus (HDV) contribute to more severe liver disease at presentation. We aim to evaluate the prevalence and predictors of advanced liver disease at presentation among a national cohort of United States (U.S.) Veterans co-infected with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and HDV. We retrospectively evaluated all U.S. Veterans with chronic HBV from 1/1/2010 to 12/31/2024 who underwent anti-HDV testing to evaluate the proportion who had advanced liver disease (cirrhosis, cirrhosis-related complications and hepatocellular carcinoma) at the time of HDV diagnosis. We performed sensitivity analyses among those who completed HDV RNA testing. Prevalence of advanced liver disease at the time of HDV testing was compared between anti-HDV positive and negative and among subgroups using chi-square testing. Among 29,061 chronic HBV patients, we identified 3558 patients who completed HDV testing during the study period, among whom 108 (3.0%) were anti-HDV positive and 3450 (97.0%) were anti-HDV negative. Anti-HDV positive patients had a significantly greater proportion of advanced liver disease compared to those who were anti-HDV negative (32.4% vs. 15.2%, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.0001). Sensitivity analyses among patients who completed HDV RNA testing demonstrated similar trends of advanced liver disease (45.5% in HDV RNA positive vs. 18.6% in HDV RNA neg, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). Among a national cohort of U.S. Veterans with chronic HBV, nearly 1 in 3 had already developed advanced liver disease at the time of HDV diagnosis, reflecting dangerous delays in diagnosis and treatment. Implementing effective programmes (e.g., reflex testing) to improve timely HDV diagnosis and treatment is urgently needed to prevent liver-related morbidity and mortality.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":17762,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Viral Hepatitis","volume":"32 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145038087","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of Concurrent Steatotic Liver Disease and Chronic Hepatitis B on Treatment Response to Nucleos(t)ide Analogs","authors":"Angela Chau,&nbsp;Jie Li,&nbsp;Dae Won Jun,&nbsp;Yao-Chun Hsu,&nbsp;Hidenori Toyoda,&nbsp;Ming-Lun Yeh,&nbsp;Tsunamasa Watanabe,&nbsp;Takashi Honda,&nbsp;Huy Trinh,&nbsp;Akito Nozaki,&nbsp;Haruki Uojima,&nbsp;Toru Ishikawa,&nbsp;Daniel Q. Huang,&nbsp;Philip Vutien,&nbsp;Sebastián Marciano,&nbsp;Hiroshi Abe,&nbsp;Masanori Atsukawa,&nbsp;Masaru Enomoto,&nbsp;Hirokazu Takahashi,&nbsp;Kunihiko Tsuji,&nbsp;Koichi Takaguchi,&nbsp;Ei Itobayashi,&nbsp;Rui Huang,&nbsp;Pei-Chien Tsai,&nbsp;Chia-Yen Dai,&nbsp;Jee-Fu Huang,&nbsp;Chung-Feng Huang,&nbsp;Eileen Yoon,&nbsp;Sung Eun Kim,&nbsp;Sang Bong Ahn,&nbsp;Gi-Ae Kim,&nbsp;Jang Han Jung,&nbsp;Soung Won Jeong,&nbsp;Hyunwoo Oh,&nbsp;Tiffany Hsiao,&nbsp;Mayumi Maeda,&nbsp;Cheng-Hao Tseng,&nbsp;Satoshi Yasuda,&nbsp;Masatoshi Ishigami,&nbsp;Makoto Chuma,&nbsp;Takanori Ito,&nbsp;Keigo Kawashima,&nbsp;Joanne Kimiko Liu,&nbsp;Norio Itokawa,&nbsp;Ritsuzo Kozuka,&nbsp;Kaori Inoue,&nbsp;Tomonori Senoh,&nbsp;Wan-Long Chuang,&nbsp;Adrian Gadano,&nbsp;Yasuhito Tanaka,&nbsp;Seng Gee Lim,&nbsp;Chao Wu,&nbsp;Ramsey Cheung,&nbsp;Ming-Lung Yu,&nbsp;Mindie H. Nguyen","doi":"10.1111/jvh.70081","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvh.70081","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Data is limited regarding response to nucleos(t)ide analogs (NA) among patients with concurrent steatotic liver disease (SLD) and chronic hepatitis B (CHB). We investigated the outcomes of NA therapy between SLD-CHB and non-SLD CHB patients in a multinational CHB cohort. Adult CHB patients treated with ETV, TDF, or TAF from 28 sites (United States, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, China, Singapore, Argentina) were retrospectively analysed. SLD was diagnosed by imaging. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to balance the SLD-CHB and non-SLD CHB groups, and competing risks analysis was used to compare incidence and sub-distribution hazard ratios (SHRs) of VR, BR, and CR. The study included 4600 patients (26.7% with SLD). SLD-CHB patients (vs. non-SLD CHB) were younger (49.4 vs. 50.9 years, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), more likely male (68.0% vs. 61.6%), from the West (24.9% vs. 19.3%), and with higher BMI (25.3 vs. 23.5) but less likely to have advanced fibrosis (22.6% vs. 35.9%), all <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001. Following PSM, baseline characteristics became balanced between the two groups. The 5-year cumulative rates for the SLD-CHB versus non-SLD CHB groups were as follows: VR (87.9% vs. 89.8%, <i>p</i> = 0.16), BR (86.8% vs. 89.2%, <i>p</i> = 0.096), and CR (77.5% vs. 81.0%, <i>p</i> = 0.085). After multivariable analysis, SLD-CHB patients had a significantly lower likelihood of achieving BR (SHR = 0.77, CI: 0.68–0.88, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) and CR (SHR = 0.84, CI: 0.72–0.97, <i>p</i> = 0.019), but not VR. Among CHB patients treated with NA therapy, SLD was associated with a 23% lower likelihood of biochemical response and a 16% lower likelihood of complete response but did not impact virologic response.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":17762,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Viral Hepatitis","volume":"32 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145038128","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Policymaker Perspectives on the Role of Health Systems in Sustainable Hepatitis C Point-Of-Care Testing in Australia","authors":"Anna Conway,&nbsp;Jason Grebely,&nbsp;Carla Treloar,&nbsp;Susan Matthews,&nbsp;Lise Lafferty,&nbsp;Natalie Taylor,&nbsp;Guillaume Fontaine,&nbsp;Alison D. Marshall","doi":"10.1111/jvh.70080","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvh.70080","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Point-of-care testing for hepatitis C virus (HCV) offers multiple benefits to key populations and healthcare providers, but it has not achieved widespread implementation. This analysis investigates the impact of the health system on the sustainability of point-of-care HCV testing in Australia. Between September 2023 and January 2024, in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with people involved in HCV policymaking in Australia. Data were coded using WHO's Health System Building Blocks framework (i.e., Health Workforce, Health System Financing, Medical Technologies, Leadership and Governance). Thematic analysis examined how the health system supports and hinders the long-term sustainability of HCV point-of-care testing. There were 29 participants working in seven Australian jurisdictions or nationally: 13 from departments of health, six from community-led organisations, five from local health services, and five from pathology. The analysis demonstrates the interrelations between Building Blocks, but governance was consistently foregrounded across each theme. For Health Workforce, the community approach to models of care in Australia bolstered support for HCV testing outside of traditional healthcare settings. For Health System Financing, sustainability was threatened by a lack of long-term funding mechanisms for point-of-care testing. For Leadership and Governance, state and national HCV elimination targets were seen as important to drive point-of-care testing at the local level, especially when they were reflected in services' key performance indicators. Integration into existing health system structures, sustainable funding mechanisms, and strengthened governance frameworks are needed to sustain HCV point-of-care testing in Australia. Study findings are critical to inform a long-term testing strategy in Australia and internationally.</p>","PeriodicalId":17762,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Viral Hepatitis","volume":"32 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvh.70080","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145037566","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Knowledge and Perceptions of Hepatitis B in Immigrant Populations: A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis of Qualitative Research","authors":"Marvad Ahad,&nbsp;Dina Moussa,&nbsp;Jack Wallace,&nbsp;Amanda J. Wade,&nbsp;Joseph S. Doyle,&nbsp;Jessica Howell","doi":"10.1111/jvh.70069","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jvh.70069","url":null,"abstract":"<p>An estimated 254 million people live with hepatitis B worldwide, with only 13% of people diagnosed and 3% receiving antiviral treatment. Without timely treatment, people with hepatitis B risk developing liver damage and liver cancer. In countries like Australia, where most people with hepatitis B are born in countries with higher prevalence, it is important that the knowledge and perceptions of hepatitis B in immigrant populations are explored to improve engagement in care. This review sought to systematically identify and synthesise qualitative research findings describing the knowledge and perceptions of hepatitis B in immigrant communities. An Ovid database search for English language publications for the years 2000–2024 was performed. 34 studies were selected for review. These were analysed using thematic synthesis and categorised using an modified version of the socio-ecological model. Ten analytic themes were identified: (1) knowledge of hepatitis B and misconceptions about transmission, (2) knowledge and familiarity with hepatitis B varies between communities, (3) culturally informed perceptions of health and illness, (4) alternative aetiologies of hepatitis B infection, (5) barriers and facilitators to engagement in healthcare, (6) sources of information, (7) stigma and family dynamics, (8) gender differences, (9) fear and anxieties of engaging with the healthcare system, (10) fear of health outcomes related to hepatitis B. These themes can be used to frame the development of culturally appropriate health promotion materials and interventions to improve knowledge and engagement in care among people living with hepatitis B.</p>","PeriodicalId":17762,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Viral Hepatitis","volume":"32 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvh.70069","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145033662","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}