Successful Hepatitis C Birth Cohort Screening and Linkage to Care in a US Community Health System.
J Public Health Manag Pract
; 28(6): E825-E830, 2022.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2289103
ABSTRACT
CONTEXT Birth cohort ("baby boomer") screening represents a well-validated strategy for the identification of asymptomatic hepatitis C-infected patients. However, successful linkage of newly diagnosed patients to antiviral therapy has been more difficult to accomplish. OBJECTIVE:
To analyze the results of a systemwide birth cohort screening program in a US community health care system.DESIGN:
We analyzed the data from an ongoing hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening and treatment program that was established at NorthShore University Health System in 2015. Hepatitis C virus screening by primary care providers was prompted through automated Best Practice and Health Maintenance alerts. Patient visits and screening orders were tracked using a customized HCV dashboard. Virologic, demographic, and treatment data were assessed and compared with those of a cohort of patients with previously established HCV infection.RESULTS:
Since program inception, 61 8161 (64.3%) of the entire NorthShore baby boomer population of 96 001 patients have completed HCV antibody testing, and 160 patients (0.26%) were antibody positive. Of 152 antibody-positive patients who underwent HCV RNA testing, 53 (34.2%) were viremic. A total of 39 of 53 patients (73.6%) underwent antiviral therapy and achieved a sustained virologic response. Compared with patients identified through screening, a comparison cohort of patients with previously established HCV had more advanced fibrosis and significantly lower dropout rates. The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a decrease in the number of outpatient visits of screening-eligible patients and with a reduction in HCV screening rates.CONCLUSION:
Our data demonstrate the electronic medical records-assisted systemwide implementation of HCV birth cohort screening and successful linkage to antiviral therapy in a community-based US multihospital system.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Hepatitis C
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Diagnostic study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
J Public Health Manag Pract
Journal subject:
Public Health
/
Health Services
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS