Global Burden from Viral Hepatitis Is Substantial and Growing

Viral hepatitis caused an estimated 1.45 million deaths in 2013 and was the seventh leading cause of death worldwide.

Investigators used data from the Global Burden of Disease Study to estimate global morbidity and mortality from acute viral hepatitis and hepatitis-virus-related cirrhosis and liver cancer from 1990 to 2013. Viruses studied included hepatitis A (HAV), hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), and hepatitis E (HEV).

Between 1990 and 2013, deaths from viral hepatitis increased 63%, from 0.89 million to 1.45 million, and disability (measured as disability-adjusted life-years or DALYs) increased 34%, from 31.7 million to 42.5 million. The absolute increases in morbidity and disability were driven primarily by population growth.

HBV and HCV accounted for 96% of hepatitis-related deaths and 91% of hepatitis-related DALYs in 2013. HBV- and HCV-related m…

Reviewing Author

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine

Global Burden from Viral Hepatitis Is Substantial and Growing

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Reviewing Author