Time trend of reported cases and publications: hepatitis E in comparison to hepatitis A - D in Germany from 2001 to 2016

TY - JOUR

T1 - Time trend of reported cases and publications: hepatitis E in comparison to hepatitis A - D in Germany from 2001 to 2016

AU - Wehmeyer, Malte H

AU - Hartl, Johannes

AU - von Wulffen, Moritz

AU - Lohse, Ansgar W

AU - Pischke, Sven

N1 - © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

PY - 2018/1

Y1 - 2018/1

N2 - BACKGROUND:  The frequency of autochthonous hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections in Western countries has increased since the millennium, probably due to a higher awareness for HEV. The aim of this study was to analyze the epidemiological situation and regional distribution of HEV in comparison to hepatitis A - D in Germany.METHODS:  Data of the reported cases, patients' travel histories, and the regional distribution of hepatitis A - E virus infections from 2001 to 2017 were extracted from databases of the Robert Koch Institute. The number of publications per year on each hepatitis virus was used as a surrogate parameter for scientific awareness.RESULTS:  The incidence of HEV infections increased from 31 reported cases in 2001 to 1991 cases in 2016 with a rate of autochthonous HEV infections of 44.4 % in 2001 and 83.9 % in 2016. In 2016, the HEV incidence was 4.4/100 000 in Eastern Germany and 2.0/100 000 in Western Germany. From 2001 to 2016, the numbers of hepatitis A and C virus infections decreased, while the number of hepatitis B virus infections initially decreased followed by an increase since 2014. The incidence of hepatitis D virus infections remained low. The incidence rates of hepatitis A - D virus infections were comparable between Eastern and Western Germany in 2016. There was a strong correlation between publications on HEV and reported HEV cases (Pearson r = 0.9803, p < 0.01).CONCLUSIONS:  Especially in Eastern Germany, but also in Western Germany, the rate of reported HEV cases and the scientific awareness for this disease increased strongly since 2001.

AB - BACKGROUND:  The frequency of autochthonous hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections in Western countries has increased since the millennium, probably due to a higher awareness for HEV. The aim of this study was to analyze the epidemiological situation and regional distribution of HEV in comparison to hepatitis A - D in Germany.METHODS:  Data of the reported cases, patients' travel histories, and the regional distribution of hepatitis A - E virus infections from 2001 to 2017 were extracted from databases of the Robert Koch Institute. The number of publications per year on each hepatitis virus was used as a surrogate parameter for scientific awareness.RESULTS:  The incidence of HEV infections increased from 31 reported cases in 2001 to 1991 cases in 2016 with a rate of autochthonous HEV infections of 44.4 % in 2001 and 83.9 % in 2016. In 2016, the HEV incidence was 4.4/100 000 in Eastern Germany and 2.0/100 000 in Western Germany. From 2001 to 2016, the numbers of hepatitis A and C virus infections decreased, while the number of hepatitis B virus infections initially decreased followed by an increase since 2014. The incidence of hepatitis D virus infections remained low. The incidence rates of hepatitis A - D virus infections were comparable between Eastern and Western Germany in 2016. There was a strong correlation between publications on HEV and reported HEV cases (Pearson r = 0.9803, p < 0.01).CONCLUSIONS:  Especially in Eastern Germany, but also in Western Germany, the rate of reported HEV cases and the scientific awareness for this disease increased strongly since 2001.

KW - Journal Article

U2 - 10.1055/s-0043-123830

DO - 10.1055/s-0043-123830

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 29316575

VL - 56

SP - 29

EP - 35

JO - Z GASTROENTEROL

JF - Z GASTROENTEROL

SN - 0044-2771

IS - 1

ER -