Oportunistic diagnosis based on age and hepatitis C virus clearance: an essential step to improve the overall health of the liver

Abstract

Back in January 2022, a The Lancet-European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) Commission on the impact of liver disorders in the European region commissioned by the World Health Organization (WHO) demonstrated that this condition is, actually, the second leading cause of loss of labor years in Europe after ischemic heart disease (1). This is a very relevant piece of information since this is something that is going to impact the new generations of Europeans unless a significant change is made in public health policies. Despite the advances made over the last few years in hep atitis C virus (HCV) clearance (understood as a significant reduction of morbidity and mortality associated with hep atitis B and C viruses), there are still challenges ahead to improve liver health due to the high use of alcohol, and the inseparable triad obesity/diabetes mellitus/metabolic asso ciated fatty liver disease. Also, access to healthcare for sev eral population groups at risk of presenting higher rates of liver disease has become a problem.