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Trends in hepatitis C virus‐associated mortality rates in Japan, 1998–2017
Author(s) -
Hagiya Hideharu,
Koyama Toshihiro,
Deguchi Matsuo,
Minato Yusuke,
Miura Satomi,
Funahashi Tomoko,
Teratani Yusuke,
Zamami Yoshito,
Shinomiya Kazuaki,
Kitamura Yoshihisa,
Sendo Toshiaki,
Hinotsu Shiro,
Kano Mitsunobu
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1111/jgh.15517
Subject(s) - medicine , confidence interval , demography , mortality rate , hepatitis c virus , hepatitis a , viral hepatitis , hepatitis c , hepatitis b virus , hepatitis a virus , hepatitis , virus , virology , sociology
Abstract Background and Aim The current prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection and hepatitis C virus‐associated mortality in Japan falls short of the World Health Organization goal of viral hepatitis elimination by 2030. We aimed to evaluate the trends in hepatitis C virus‐associated mortality in Japan. Methods This nationwide observational study used the Japanese Vital Statistics from 1998 to 2017 and included all Japanese hepatitis C virus‐associated deaths (84 936) of adults aged ≥ 40 years. We calculated the crude and age‐standardized mortality rates per 100 000 persons by age and sex. Joinpoint regression analysis was used to identify significant changing points in trends and to estimate the annual percentage changes and the average annual percentage changes for the entire study period. Results The crude mortality rate per 100 000 persons (annual death number) increased from 5.5 (3548) in 1998 to 7.0 (4843) in 2005 and decreased to 4.0 (3095) in 2017. By 2017, the crude mortality rates per 100 000 persons among men and women had dropped to 3.6 and 4.3, respectively. The age‐standardized mortality rate was higher in women than in men. The average annual percentage change was −3.8% (95% confidence interval: −5.0 to −2.5). The declining trend was more rapid in men (−4.5%, 95% confidence interval: −5.3 to −3.6) than in women (−2.7%, 95% confidence interval: −3.8 to −1.6). Conclusions Trends in hepatitis C virus‐associated mortality rates have declined in an accelerating manner in Japan, especially among men.