Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on treatment for hepatitis B

This study investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the number of individuals who started treatment for hepatitis B from 2020 to 2022. The study evaluated the impact on treatment for hepatitis B in three time periods: June to December 2020, January to December 2021, and January to December 2022. We found that 58 fewer people each month started treatment during June to December 2020, compared to what was expected. This was a decrease of 55.5%, compared to what was expected. In 2021, 50.5% fewer people than expected started treatment, and in 2022, 57.3% fewer people than expected started treatment. Percentage decreases in the number of people starting treatment for hepatitis B were greater for males than females, people under 65 years of age compared to those 65 years or older, and for people who inject drugs compared to those to do not inject drugs. In summary, after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people starting treatment for hepatitis B was lower than would have been expected in the absence of the pandemic. The number of people starting treatment for hepatitis B remained lower than expected from 2020 to 2022. The impact of the pandemic on the number of people starting treatment for hepatitis B was greater for males, people under 65 years of age, and people who inject drugs.