What is already known about this topic?

The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Health Estimates (GHE) reported that acute hepatitis caused 9,213 deaths and 307,720 person years of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in 2016, and acute hepatitis B accounted for 85.81% of all DALYs among acute hepatitis types A, B, C, and E in China.

What is added by this report?

In China, the percent changes in years lived with disability (YLDs) due to acute hepatitis A, B, and E in groups aged 50–69 years and 70 years or more and in all age groups for acute hepatitis C were increased from 2000 to 2019.

What are the implications for public health practices?

Effective vaccines, interventions, and treatments are key approaches to achieve the WHO’s goal of reducing new hepatitis infections by 90% and deaths by 65% between 2016 and 2030.

What is already known on this topic?

To understand the status of the diagnosis and reporting of hepatitis C and standardize the reporting of hepatitis C cases in county-level hospitals, we conducted the first supervised analysis of hepatitis C cases in county-level hospitals in China from 2013 to 2018, covering all provincial-level administrative divisions (PLADs) except Tibet.

What is added by this report?

Through 6 years of supervision, we have obtained key data such as the nucleic acid detection rate and positive rate of hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody positive cases in our county-level hospitals, the report rate and accuracy of HCV RNA positive cases, and standardized and improved the hepatitis C case reporting in county-level hospitals to improve data quality and provide data support for the judgment and estimation of hepatitis C in China.

What are the implications for public health practice?

By strengthening the management and supervision of hepatitis C case reporting, the reporting rate and accuracy of HCV RNA positive cases in county-level hospitals in China had been greatly improved. By combining the number of HCV antibody tests and the number of viral nucleic acid tests in medical institutions around the country, it was possible to effectively assess the current status of hepatitis C in China and to provide a scientific basis for the development of hepatitis C prevention and treatment measures.