Home / Health / Alberta Doctors Find More Aggressive Hepatitis D
Alberta Doctors Find More Aggressive Hepatitis D
2 Sep
Summary
- New strategies help Alberta doctors find and treat more hepatitis cases.
- Mapping identified hepatitis B hotspots in Calgary and Edmonton.
- Wait times for liver specialists in Calgary reduced to six weeks.
Recent changes in Alberta's management of hepatitis patients are leading to better detection and treatment of the disease, including a more aggressive form known as hepatitis D.
Researchers in Calgary mapped hepatitis B cases, pinpointing hotspots in northeast Calgary and north/central Edmonton, which correlated with recent immigration patterns. Hepatitis B, a virus attacking the liver, can lead to serious complications like cirrhosis and liver cancer if untreated.
Hepatitis D, which can only survive in patients with hepatitis B, is a more aggressive strain. Testing for hepatitis D in Alberta has been found to be significantly lower compared to other countries with similar hepatitis B rates, with testing scattered across the province.
Significant improvements have been made in reducing wait times for liver specialists. Hepatologists at the University of Calgary have successfully reduced wait times from over a year and a half to just six weeks, a first for Canadian cities.
Despite these advancements, challenges persist, including low public awareness of hepatitis B risk factors and the stigmatization of the disease. Furthermore, the cost of vital treatment drugs can be substantial for those without adequate coverage.
