OBJECTIVES: In Russia, approximately 700,000 people have confirmed active hepatitis C virus (HCV) and are registered by the healthcare facilities. However, the real prevalence of HCV, including hidden, may be up to 2.3 million. The objective of this study is to evaluate the social and economic burden of HCV.

METHODS: The social burden was assessed by examining excess mortality (including working-age adults) and decrease in life expectancy at birth. These indicators were estimated under a hypothetical scenario of no HCV and compared with the actual values in 2020. The economic burden included costs associated with HCV screening, diagnosis, and treatment. Additionally, direct non-medical costs such as disability benefits, and indirect costs, including the loss of GDP due to premature mortality and disability, were considered. All indicators were estimated for 2020 without considering future costs, and human capital theory was employed to estimate the indirect costs.

RESULTS: In 2020, HCV resulted in 16.9 thousand excess deaths that reduced life expectancy at birth by 0.18 years. The economic burden of HCV was US$ 816.3 million. Mainly it was attributed to indirect economic costs of production losses - US$ 601.9 million (74% of the overall burden). Direct medical costs were US$ 179.4 million or 22% of the overall burden, including direct-acting antiviral drugs (DAAs) procurements (US$ 103.7 million), screening (US$ 44.7 million), and medical treatment of cirrhosis and liver cancer (US$ 29.5 million). Disability benefits (US$ 35.0 million) were the least component of the overall burden. The limited use of DAAs explains the high proportion of indirect costs: in 2020, only a small percentage of patients in Russia, 0.9% of those registered, received these medications.

CONCLUSIONS: The social and economic burden of HCV in Russia is considerable and requires implementing new effective control measures.