Background: The aim of this study is to quantify the burden caused by viral hepatitis in China from 1990 to 2016.
Methods: Data from the GBD 2016 study were extracted to calculate incidence, prevalence and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Trends in DALYs were assessed in 33 provinces/regions.
Results: From 1990 to 2016, the total incidence of hepatitis decreased by 88.5%. However, the prevalence of hepatitis (counts in thousands), increased by 37.6% from 153,856 (95% UI: 136,047-172,319) in 1990 to 211,721 (95% UI: 179,776-240,981) in 2016, with age-standardized prevalence rates changing slightly. The number and age-standardized rates of prevalence increased by 35.9 and 1.6% for hepatitis B, respectively, and by 81.8 and 30.4% for hepatitis C. Guangxi, Guangdong and Hainan had the highest age-standardized prevalence rates (≥16,500 per 100,000). Tibet, Qinghai and Gansu had the highest age-standardized DALYs rates (≥40 per 100,000). The largest absolute number of DALYs was observed in the 15-49 year age group in 2016. The highest rate of DALYs occurred in males aged 50-69 years and in females aged ≧70 years.
Conclusion: The incidence and DALYs of viral hepatitis decreased dramatically from 1990 to 2016. However, the prevalence still remains at a high level, which may result in heavy burdens in the future.
Keywords: Disability-adjusted life year; Epidemiology; Hepatitis; Incidence; Prevalence.