Liver cancer ranked as the 5th most common cancer and was the 3rd leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Hong Kong in 2022. Chronic hepatitis B infection (CHB) is the most significant risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) locally, accounting for 75-80% of cases. The lifetime risk of developing HCC among patients with CHB is estimated to be between 10-25%, representing more than a ten-fold increase compared to uninfected individuals.
Preventing HBV infection is therefore the critical strategy for reducing the incidence of liver cancer. To that end, universal neonatal hepatitis B vaccination has proven to be the most effective tool in reducing mother-to-child transmission of HBV, the major transmission route responsible for the majority of CHB cases, contributing to a decrease in the incidence of hepatic events and HCC. In addition to vaccination, early detection and management of CHB are equally vital.
Although the prevalence of HBV infection in the general population has declined from over 10% in the early 1980s to 5.6% in 2020-22, challenges on prevention and control of HBV infection remains, given the substantial size of population (about 410 000 people) living hepatitis B who are mostly aged 40 or above. This presentation will review the series of interventions implemented in Hong Kong since the 1980s, introduce new initiatives set out in the First Hong Kong Viral Hepatitis Action Plan 2020-2024, and elaborate on the strategic shifts and broadened scope of actions in the upcoming Action Plan 2025-2030, with the ultimate aim to further alleviate the public health burden posed by CHB.
