The problem of viral hepatitis C in the Russian Federation

The incidence of chronic viral hepatitides (CVH) has increased 2.2-fold in the Russian Federation over the past decade. This increase is mainly determined by an almost threefold rise in the incidence of chronic hepatitis C (CHC): from 12.9 in 1999 to 39.1 per 100,000 population in 2012. The calculated data of hepatitis C burden in the Russian Federation show that in 2010 the total medical and social losses and expenses associated with hepatitis C and its implications were 48.47 billion rubles or 0.108% of the gross domestic product, the direct medical costs were 17.1 billion (35.28%) rubles, GDP losses were 26.05 billion (53.75%) rubles, and the disability payments were 5.32 billion (10.97%) rubles. The patients (mean age 45 years) with liver cirrhosis (LC) were 15.2% in the structure of the CHC patients (mean age 37 years) admitted to Moscow infectious diseases hospitals in 2010. Analysis of the regional registers of the Russian Federation, the proportion of patients with LC among those with CHC was 18%. The existing forms for recording morbidity and mortality from poor CHC outcomes cannot significantly estimate the true disease stage distribution of patients and hepatitis C-associated disability and mortality rates. In this connection, it is necessary to introduce a federal register and to change recording forms for patients with viral hepatitides. Standard interferon, pegylated interferon alpha 2a and pegylated alpha 2b, and the HCV protease inhibitors telaprevir, boceprevir, and simeprevir have been registered for the treatment of hepatitis C in the Russian Federation.