Regional Mortality From Chronic Liver Diseases in African Countries Attributable to Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatitis C Virus Infections From 1990 to 2021 and Projections to 2030

Category	Detail
Condition	Chronic liver disease (CLD) caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections
Key Mechanisms	Progressive liver inflammation leading to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma due to persistent viral infection
Target Population	Populations across 47 African countries with high HBV and HCV prevalence
Care Setting	Healthcare settings addressing viral hepatitis diagnosis, treatment, and liver disease management in Africa

In 2021, CLD-related deaths and age-standardized death rates (ASDR) were higher for HBV (81,074 deaths; 14.2/100,000) than HCV (60,717 deaths; 11.2/100,000) in Africa.
Western Africa had the highest number of CLD deaths from HBV and HCV, while Central Africa had the highest ASDR for both infections.
Projected increases in CLD deaths due to HBV and HCV will continue through 2030, with most African regions unlikely to meet the WHO 2030 elimination target.

Use epidemiological data and age-standardized mortality rates to identify high-burden regions and populations.
Screen for HBV and HCV infections, especially in high-risk age groups and regions with elevated ASDR.

Implement HBV vaccination prior to exposure to prevent infection.
Provide antiviral treatment for HBV infections to manage disease progression.
Offer curative antiviral therapy for HCV infections, as no vaccine is available.
Address sociodemographic barriers to improve access to diagnosis and treatment.

Track mortality trends using age-standardized death rates and estimated annual percentage changes.
Monitor progress toward WHO 2030 viral hepatitis elimination goals at regional and national levels.

Delayed diagnosis and treatment due to limited healthcare access increase CLD burden.
COVID-19 pandemic resource diversion has negatively impacted viral hepatitis control efforts.
Low-income regions face higher incidence and mortality rates from viral hepatitis-related CLD.

Individuals infected with HBV or HCV across African regions, stratified by age and socioeconomic status

HBV infection requires lifelong antiviral management without a cure; HCV infection is highly curable with antiviral therapy but lacks a vaccine.

Prioritize HBV vaccination programs to reduce new infections.
Expand access to antiviral treatments for HBV and HCV to reduce disease progression and mortality.
Enhance screening and early diagnosis efforts, particularly in high-burden African subregions.
Address socioeconomic and healthcare access disparities to improve outcomes.
Maintain surveillance of CLD mortality trends to guide public health interventions.

Clinical Scorecard: Mortality Rates Associated with Chronic Liver Diseases Due to Hepatitis B and C Infections in African Nations: An Analysis from 1990 to 2021 with Future Projections to 2030