Abstract

CARVALHO, Juliana Ribeiro de et al. Method for estimating the prevalence of chronic hepatitis B and C and cirrhosis of the liver in Brazil, 2008. Epidemiol. Serv. Saúde [online]. 2014, vol.23, n.4, pp.691-700. ISSN 1679-4974.

OBJECTIVE: to estimate chronic viral hepatitis and liver cirrhosis prevalence in Brazil, 2008. METHODS: hepatitis B and C prevalence estimates were calculated based on a national survey, considering chronic cases to be all positive HBsAg and 70% of positive anti-HCV. Hepatitis prevalence was used to estimate viral cirrhosis and cirrhosis due to alcohol and other causes were considered complementary to the former. RESULTS: national chronic hepatitis B and C prevalence estimates were 370/100,000 and 959/100,000 inhabitants, respectively. Liver cirrhosis prevalence was 0.35% overall, with the following distribution by causes: 151/100,000 for hepatitis C; 17/100,000 for hepatitis B and 182/100,000 for alcohol and other causes. CONCLUSION: prevalence estimates, although compatible with low endemicity, highlight viral hepatitis and cirrhosis as relevant health problems in the country. Further population-based studies are required in order to obtain better prevalence estimates.

Keywords : Liver Cirrhosis; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis C; Estimation Techniques; Cross-Sectional Studies.

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