Contextualizing Canada’s hepatitis C virus epidemic

Abstract

In 2016, Canada signed on to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2030 hepatitis C virus (HCV) disease elimination targets. Most of Canada’s HCV disease burden is among five disproportionately affected population groups: 1 ) Baby boomers, who are at increased risk of dying from decompensated cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma and for whom one-time screening should be recommended to identify those undiagnosed; 2 ) People who inject drugs (PWID), whose mortality risks include HCV infection, HCV acquisition risks and co-morbid conditions. While HCV infection in PWID can be effectively cured with direct-acting antivirals, premature deaths from acquisition risks, now exacerbated by Canada’s opioid crisis, will need to be addressed to achieve the full benefits of curative treatment. PWID require syndemic-based solutions (harm reduction, addictions and mental health support, and management of co-infections, including HIV); 3 ) Indigenous populations who will require wellness-based health promotion, prevention, care and treatment designed by Indigenous people to address their underlying health disparities; 4 ) Immigrants who will require culturally designed and linguistically appropriate services to enhance screening and engagement into care; and ( 5 ) For those incarcerated because of drug-related crimes, decriminalization and better access to harm reduction could help reduce the impact of HCV infections and premature mortality. A comprehensive prevention, care and treatment framework is needed for Canada’s vulnerable populations, including those co-infected with HIV, if we are to achieve the WHO HCV elimination targets by 2030. The aim of this review is to describe the HCV epidemic in the Canadian context.