Territory-wide population-based study of chronic hepatitis C infection and implications for hepatitis elimination in Hong Kong.

Background: To study the epidemiology of chronic hepatitis C virus infection in Hong Kong and to estimate the service gap for achieving the WHO hepatitis elimination targets of attaining a diagnosis rate of 90%, treatment rate of 80% and 65% reduction in mortality rate by 2030.

Methods: From January 2005 to March 2017, patients who were tested positive for anti-HCV were retrospectively retrieved from all public hospitals in Hong Kong. The epidemiological data of 15 participating hospitals were analysed.