hepatitis in canada: stats, impact and resources
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in 2021, 3,524 cases of hepatitis b were reported from all 13 canadian provinces and territories.
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hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, a vital organ needed to process and filter toxins from the bloodstream, help digestion, and regulate metabolism. when your liver becomes inflamed with hepatitis, its ability to process toxins is compromised, and this can lead to liver failure, liver cancer and cirrhosis, a condition where healthy liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue.
while hepatitis isn’t a leading cause of death nationally, it remains a key contributor to liver disease and liver cancer. in fact, 95 per cent of deaths from liver disease stem from chronic hepatitis (types b and c) and liver cancer.
hepatitis stats in canada
out of the different types of viral hepatitis, the most common is hepatitis b, also known as hbv. it is specifically transmitted through blood, sex, or childbirth. it can be either chronic or acute, and there is a vaccine available.
in 2021, 3,524 cases of hepatitis b were reported from all 13 canadian provinces and territories. this accounts for a rate of 9.2 cases per 100,000 people living in canada. while overall rates in the general population are declining, hepatitis b is on the rise in vulnerable populations, such as immigrants from endemic areas, first nations, men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs and people who are incarcerated. challenges remain in access to testing and treatment for those at higher risk.
here are more key numbers from 2021:
- according to the government of canada, males were overrepresented in cases of acute hepatitis b, making up 64.9 per cent of all cases.
- the rate of acute hepatitis b among males was 0.39 cases per 100,000 males, and the rate among females was 0.21 cases per 100,000 females.
- among males, those aged 40 to 59 had the highest reported acute hepatitis b rate at 0.61 cases per 100,000 males. the largest proportion of cases was also reported in this age group (40.5 per cent).
- among females, those aged 30 to 39 had the highest reported acute hepatitis b rate at 0.31 cases per 100,000 females. the largest proportion of cases was reported in women aged 40 to 59 (32.5 per cent).
- the highest estimated number of people living with chronic hepatitis b was among immigrants from countries where hepatitis b is common.
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as the canadian liver journal points out, “chronic hepatitis b virus (hbv) infection poses significant public health challenges in canada, particularly among newcomers from regions with high hbv prevalence.”
hepatitis can also develop through excessive alcohol consumption or other liver-damaging substances. according to the journal of the american medical association (jama), alcohol-related liver disease accounts for roughly 36 per cent of liver transplants in canada, and is rising toward 40 per cent.
a 2024 report from jama internal medicine warns that alcohol-associated hepatitis has high mortality, and rates are increasing among adolescents and young adults, particularly for females.
impact of hepatitis on canadian society
hepatitis affects individuals, their families, as well as healthcare and economic systems. both direct and indirect healthcare costs are associated with hepatitis on a personal and societal level.
it’s estimated that the cost of chronic hepatitis c (hcv) alone was $161 million in 2013, and that number is projected to increase by 60 per cent by 2032. this rise is driven by the cost of antiviral medications and the management of advanced liver disease. while there is no vaccine for hcv, the virus can be cured with drug therapy in eight to 12 weeks.
action hepatitis canada (ahc) has outlined a progress report, stating that “significant progress has been made or is underway in removing barriers to viral hepatitis treatment” in canada, and that the country is on track with most of the world health organization (who) 2025 interim targets as measured. the first metric was to cap the maximum rate of new cases of chronic viral hepatitis, and focus on the currently infected. the next step in combating hepatitis is to develop an elimination plan.
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with the coalition for global hepatitis elimination, canada has discussed a national elimination plan moving forward that would include:
- completing development of a national sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (stbbi) elimination indicator and target framework to include hbv and hcv incidence, prevalence and mortality.
- implementing a universal hepatitis b birth dose policy for vaccination in all provinces.
- develop policies to guide hbv screening and care, as well as update hcv screening and care guidelines.
- scaling up hcv prevention, testing and treatment in provincial correctional facilities.
a report from the government of canada states, “between 60 per cent and 85 per cent of all new hcv infections in canada occurred among people who inject drugs (pwid) between 2000 and 2016.”
hepatitis stats around the world
the who fact sheet in 2022, later refined in 2024, estimated that 254 million people worldwide were living with chronic hbv in 2022, leading to an approximate 1.1 million deaths. most of those deaths were caused by cirrhosis and liver cancer.
in 2022, 58 million people worldwide contracted chronic hepatitis c.
resources and support for hepatitis
canada has several organizations geared toward assisting people with a hepatitis diagnosis and supporting research. ahc, which focuses on prevention, testing, treatment access and public education, and catie, canada’s source for hiv and hepatitis c information, offer information and resources for those impacted and their families.
in addition, liver canada (formerly known as the canadian liver foundation) offers outreach services for patient support. more information can be found through the following:
if you haven’t yet received your vaccination for hbv, please consider reaching out to your local clinic or general physician. testing is recommended if symptoms begin to occur soon after sexual intercourse.
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