OBJECTIVES

: Countries in Asia present a higher prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) than Europe. This study aims at reviewing and comparing the clinical burden of HCV between Asia and Europe.

METHODS

: Systematic reviews of HCV-related clinical burden in Asia and Europe were identified through Medline and Embase. HCV prevalence, incidence and mortality were extracted and compared.

RESULTS

: Of the 1218 studies identified, 25 systematic reviews were included, with 15 focusing on Asia and 10 on Europe. Prevalence was reported in 274 studies in Asia and 144 in Europe. Overall, Asia presented higher prevalence than Europe before 1995 (0.30-5.60% VS. 0.08-5.57%), from 1996 to 2000 (0.10-16.90% VS. 0.01-7.50%), from 2001 to 2005 (0.02-23.80% VS. 0.02-10.20%), from 2006 to 2010 (0.35-23.70% VS. 0.02-5.20%) and from 2011 to 2015 (0.06-20.80% VS. 0.01-4.50%). Among 5 sub-regions in Asia, Asia Pacific reported lower prevalence (0.19-1.90%) than Southeast, South, East and Central Asia (1.00-2.00%, 1.10-3.40%, 1.20-3.70%, and 3.80-5.40% respectively). However, prevalence of 3 sub-regions in Europe was similar (Western, Central and Eastern Europe: 2.20-2.70%, 2.00-2.80% and 2.30-3.50%). Difference in HCV prevalence among genders was reported in Asia showing higher prevalence for male in Japan (0.60-1.40% VS. 0.50-0.70%), but it was not reported in Europe. Incidence was reported in 3 studies for Japan and China in Asia and 1 for Italy in Europe. The incidence of HCV in Japan (2.80-3.60‰) was substantially higher than in China (0.05-0.06‰) and in Italy (0.01-0.05‰). Mortality was reported in 7 studies for Japan in Asia but not in Europe. All-cause mortality of HCV in Japan was 3.70% and 50.50% with follow-up of 5.8 years and 11.5 years respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

: Countries in Asia have higher HCV prevalence than in Europe. Published data with regards to incidence and mortality of HCV infection are currently limited.