Results of a Hepatitis C Virus Screening Program of the 1945-1965 Birth Cohort in a Large Emergency Department in New Jersey

Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection: An Ongoing Challenge in Screening and Treatment

With the advent of direct-acting antiviral agents (DAA) in the recent few years, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has become a curable infectious disease. Successful clearance of HCV could lead to improvement of both hepatic and extrahepatic outcomes, such as complications of cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, cardiovascular diseases, and incident diabetes. However, challenges persist in reaching the HCV elimination goals of the World Health Organization by 2030. Among these challenges are identifying those already infected or undiagnosed subjects, re-linking to the care of known but untreated HCV-infected subjects, and developing strategies to enhance treatment rates and compliance in specific or high-risk populations. In addition, issues of post-DAA viral clearance, including avoiding or preventing reinfection in high-risk populations and surveillance of hepatocellular carcinoma, are important to consolidate the treatment's short- and long-term efficacies. In the current DAA era, treatment is the most effective prevention strategy not only in its excellent efficacy and safety but also in preventing HCV spread. All of the surveillance or measures should center on DAA treatment in clinical practice.

Risk factors for hepatitis C virus infection at a large urban emergency department

In 2020, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released guidelines recommending HCV screening in all adults 18 years and older. In the current study, we aimed to identify risk factors for HCV infection in an ED population. We performed a retrospective analysis of ED patients ≥ 18 years who were screened for HCV between 28 November 2018, and 27 November 2019, at a single urban, quaternary referral academic hospital. An HCV-antibody immunoassay (HCV-Ab) was used for screening; positive results were confirmed by measuring HCV ribonucleic acid (RNA). The outcome of interest was the number of new HCV diagnoses (presence of viremia by HCV RNA testing). Multiple logistic regression models were used to identify risk factors associated with a new HCV diagnosis. 16,722 adult patients were screened for HCV (mean age: 46 ± 15 years; 51% female). HCV seroprevalence was 5%. Independent risk factors for HCV included increasing age [10-year aOR 1.26 (95% CI 1.23, 1.30)], male sex [aOR 1.25 (95% CI 1.03, 1.51)], undomiciled housing status [aOR 2.8 (95% CI 2.3, 3.5)], history of tobacco use [aOR 3.0 (95% CI 2.3, 3.9)], history of illicit drug use [aOR 3.6 (95% CI 2.9, 4.5)], Medicaid insurance status [aOR 4.0 (95% CI 2.9, 5.5)] and Medicare insurance status [aOR 1.6 (95% CI 1.1, 2.2)].The ED services a high-risk population with regards to HCV infection. These data support universal screening of ED patients for HCV. Risk factor profiles could improve targeted screening at institutions without universal testing protocols.

Integrating hepatitis C virus screening of baby boomers at a community hospital emergency department

Approximately 2.4 million Americans are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), and persons born from 1945 through 1965 (i.e. baby boomers) account for nearly three-fourths of all HCV infections. The purpose of this study was to implement HCV screening for baby boomers presenting to a community hospital emergency department (ED) and to facilitate linkage to care. We developed a process within our electronic medical record system to screen patients for HCV testing eligibility, link eligible patients to laboratory orders, notify patients of HCV test results (via patient navigator) and track follow-up care. We tracked performance from February 2016 to December 2018. Sociodemographic compositions and linkage to care rates of all participants were evaluated. A total of 14,927 patients from the birth cohort of 1945-1965 were screened for HCV. Of those tested, 555 (3.7%) had a positive HCV antibody test and 147 were HCV RNA-positive patients (1.0%) demonstrating that only 27% of HCV antibody-positive individuals were chronically infected. Males, black race and USA-born baby boomers had a higher prevalence of HCV antibody and viral load positivity (p < 0.05). Initially, only 17.6% of patients were ultimately linked to care, which improved to over 94% after the implementation of patient navigation support. There is a need for HCV screening protocol in the community. The cost of implementing an HCV screening programme must include information technology and a team of care coordinators to improve screening rates and facilitate linkage to continual care using the four pillars framework.

Universal Screening for Hepatitis C Virus in the ED Using a Best Practice Advisory

Introduction

In 2019 the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released draft guidelines recommending universal hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening for individuals aged 18–79. We aimed to assess the efficacy of an emergency department-based HCV screening program, by comparing screening practices before and after its implementation.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort analysis of two temporally matched, 11-month study periods, corresponding to before and after the implementation of a best practice advisory (BPA). Patients were screened for anti-HCV antibody (Ab), and positive results were followed by HCV viral load (VL) testing. The primary implementation outcome was ED testing volume (number of tests performed/month). The primary screening outcomes were the seroprevalence of anti-HCV Ab and HCV VL. We describe data with simple descriptive statistics.

Results

The median age of patients was similar between periods (pre: 50 years [interquartile range [IQR] 34–62], post: 47 years [IQR 33–59]). Patients screened were more likely to be males in the pre-BPA period (Male, pre: 60%, post: 49%). During the pre-BPA study period, a total of 69,604 patients were seen in the ED, and 218 unique patients were screened for HCV (mean 19.8 tests/month). During the post-BPA study period, a total of 68,225 patients were seen in the ED, and 14,981 unique patients were screened for HCV (mean 1361.9 tests/month). Anti-HCV Ab seroprevalence was 23% (51/218) and 9% (1340/14,981) in the pre-BPA and post-BPA periods, respectively. In the pre-BPA period, six patients with a positive anti-HCV Ab level had follow-up VL testing (detectable in three). In the post-BPA period, reflex VL testing was performed in most patients (91%, 1225/1,340), and there were 563 patients with detectable VLs, indicating active infection.

Conclusion

Our study shows that using a universal BPA-driven screening protocol can dramatically increase the number of patients screened for HCV and increase the number of new HCV diagnoses.

Evaluation of a strategy for identification of hepatitis C virus carriers in outpatient and emergency units: contribution to the microelimination of hepatitis C in Brazil

Introduction

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection continues to be an important public health problem worldwide. Despite the availability of drugs that promote the cure of infection in more than 95% of cases, the identification of HCV carriers remains a major challenge.

Objective

To evaluate a strategy for identifying HCV carriers based on combined criteria: screening in emergency units and specialty outpatient clinics of a tertiary hospital and among older adults (≥45 years), both suggested as efficient in epidemiological studies.

Methods

A cross-sectional, analytical and descriptive study was conducted on individuals of both sexes, aged 45 years and older, attending the emergency department and specialty outpatient clinics of a University Hospital in São Paulo, Brazil, from January 2016 to June 2018. After giving formal consent, the patients were submitted to a standardized interview and rapid testing for the identification of HCV antibodies (SD BIOLINE® anti-HCV).

Results

A total of 606 adult patients (62% women and 37% men) were evaluated. The mean age was 62 ± 10 years. Four positive tests were identified, with confirmation by conventional serology and HCV-RNA determination. Thus, the prevalence of HCV identified in the sample was 0.66%. All patients had a history of risk factors for infection.

Conclusion

The strategies of birth-cohort testing and screening in emergency medical services for the identification of HCV carries, both suggested in the literature as efficient for the diagnosis of hepatitis C, resulted in a low rate of HCV infection. These findings highlight the magnitude of the challenge of identifying asymptomatic HCV carriers in Brazil.

Effect of a Best Practice Alert on Birth-Cohort Screening for Hepatitis C Virus

INTRODUCTION

We assessed the influence of a best practice alert (BPA) embedded within the electronic medical record on improving hepatitis C virus (HCV) birth-cohort screening by primary care physicians (PCPs).

METHODS

Screening by 155 PCPs was monitored during 2 consecutive 9-month periods before and after implementation of the BPA. All tests were reviewed to differentiate true screening from other testing indications.

RESULTS

Of 155 PCPs, 131 placed screening orders before and after BPA. Twenty-two PCPs started testing after BPA (P = 0.02). The number of tests placed and screening rates per PCP increased from 16 to 84 and from 3.3% to 13.2%, respectively (P < 0.0001). Before BPA, most PCPs rarely ordered screening HCV tests, whereas a small group of physicians generated most tests, indicative of an underlying power-law distribution. After the BPA, a new group of high-performing PCPs emerged, whose screening patterns were again characterized by a power-law distribution. However, pre-BPA test rates of individual PCPs were not predictive of their post-BPA rates. Overall, the introduction of the BPA narrowed the gap between low- and high-performing testers, indicating that modest increases in testing by a large number of low-performing PCPs could drive substantial improvement in program implementation.

DISCUSSION

HCV birth-cohort screening by PCPs was shaped by an underlying power-law distribution. This distribution was preserved after the implementation of a BPA, although pre-BPA test rates were not predictive of post-BPA rates. Increases in test rates by high- and low-performing PCPs both contributed to the overall success of the BPA.

Nontargeted Hepatitis C Screening in an Urban Emergency Department in New York City

BACKGROUND

Previously the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended targeted hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening for adults born between 1945 and 1965 and individuals with HCV risk factors. In April 2020, the CDC updated their recommendations to now include all individuals 18 years of age and older in settings with HCV prevalence > 0.1%. Few emergency departments (EDs) currently employ this nontargeted screening approach.

OBJECTIVES

We examined how a shift from targeted to nontargeted screening might affect HCV case identification. We hypothesized that nontargeted screening could improve HCV case identification in our ED.

METHODS

Retrospective review of prospectively collected nontargeted screening data from June 6, 2018 to June 5, 2019 in a large urban academic ED. Patients 18 years of age and older, triaged to the adult or pediatric ED and able to provide consent for HCV testing, were eligible for study inclusion.

RESULTS

There were 83,864 ED visits and 40,282 unique patients deemed eligible for HCV testing. Testing occurred in 10,630 (26.4%) patients, of which 638 (6%) had positive HCV antibody (Ab+) tests and 214 (2%) had a positive viral load (VL+). Birth cohort-targeted screening would have identified 48% of the patients with Ab+ tests and 47% of those who were VL+. Risk-based targeted screening would increase the number of Ab+ patients to 67% and VL+ to 72%.

CONCLUSIONS

Nontargeted ED-based HCV screening can identify a large number of patients with HCV infection. A shift from targeted to nontargeted screening may result in fewer missed infections but requires further study.

Screening for hepatitis C in urgent and emergency units: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

Identifying studies that performed screening for hepatitis C and that also assessed the virus prevalence in urgency and emergency unit users.

METHOD

A systematic review performed on the LILACS, MEDLINE databases via PubMed, SciELO and Virtual Health Library.

RESULTS

After careful search and analysis, 19 publications were part of the results, in compliance with the pre-defined criteria. Publication dates were concentrated between 1992 and 2018. The main journal to publish such articles was the Annals of Emergency Medicine (26.31%). Regarding the origin of publications, the following stand out: United States (63.15%), Europe (31.57%), and Asia (5.28%). Regarding prevalence, in the United States, a variation between 1.4% to 18% was observed. In Europe, in turn, the prevalence ranged from 0 to 5%. In the Asian study, the prevalence was 1.8%.

CONCLUSION

The screening performed in urgent and emergency units proved to be efficient in identifying new cases, especially when associated with the age factor, which proves to be superior to the strategy based only on risk factors. Thus, for greater effectiveness, the association of three strategies is recommended: screening location, age group, and risk factors.

The emergency department as a setting-specific opportunity for population-based hepatitis C screening: An economic evaluation

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The World Health Organization's hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination strategy recognizes the need for interventions that identify populations most affected by infection. The emergency department (ED) has been suggested as a setting for HCV screening. The study objective was to explore the health and economic impact of HCV screening in the ED setting.

METHODS

We used a microsimulation model to conduct a cost-utility analysis evaluating two ED setting-specific strategies: no screening, and screening and subsequent treatment. Strategies were examined for two populations: (a) the general ED patient population; and (b) ED patients born between 1945 and 1975. The analysis was conducted from a healthcare payer perspective over a lifetime time horizon. A reference and high ED HCV seroprevalence measure were examined in the Canadian healthcare setting.US costs of chronic infection were used for a scenario analysis of screening in the US healthcare setting.

RESULTS

For birth cohort screening, in comparison to no screening, one liver-related death was averted for every 760 and 123 persons screened for the reference and high seroprevalence measures. For general population screening, one liver-related death was averted for every 831 and 147 persons screened for the reference and high seroprevalence measures. In comparison to no screening, birth cohort screening was cost-effective at CAN$25,584/quality-adjusted life year (QALY) and US$42,615/QALY. General population screening was cost-effective at CAN$19,733/QALY and US$32,187/QALY.

CONCLUSIONS

ED screening may represent a cost-effective component of population-based strategies to eliminate HCV. Further studies are warranted to explore the feasibility and acceptability of this approach.

Assessing the Effectiveness of Strategies in US Birth Cohort Screening for Hepatitis C Infection

Chronic hepatitis C infection in the USA is a highly morbid condition and current guidelines recommend one-time screening among the birth cohort (1945-1965). Understanding strategies to optimize screening can help inform future hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening guidelines. A focused literature search was performed using PubMed and manual abstract review from major hepatology conferences over the past 2 years. The search strategy involved using Medical Subject Headings terms for hepatitis C, screening, birth cohort, baby boomers, and 1945-1965. The review was limited to data from the USA. A total of 327 articles were identified and 36 abstracts were included, with studies published between 2012-2019. Strategies including clinician education, electronic medical record alerts, reflex HCV RNA testing, point-of-care testing, multisite (outpatient, inpatient, emergency department, endoscopy suite) initiatives, direct patient solicitation, and utilization of non-physician providers have increased HCV screening rates. However, broad implementation remains less than optimal. Barriers include lack of patient acceptance to screening and engagement in the HCV care cascade. The Veterans Affairs Healthcare System has achieved higher birth cohort screening rates through an integrated approach requiring high-level engagement by leadership and institutional commitment. Multiple strategies for increasing birth cohort screening have been successful, but overall rates of HCV screening remain low. These strategies can inform public health efforts to implement emerging national recommendations for expansion of HCV screening to all U.S. adults age 18 or older.

Universal HIV and Birth Cohort HCV Screening in San Diego Emergency Departments

Universal HIV and HCV screening in emergency departments (ED) can reach populations who are less likely to get tested otherwise. The objective of this analysis was to evaluate universal opt-out HIV and HCV screening in two EDs in San Diego. HIV screening for persons aged 13-64 years (excluding persons known to be HIV+ or reporting HIV testing within last 12 months) was implemented using a 4th generation HIV antigen/antibody assay; HCV screening was offered to persons born between 1945 and 1965. Over a period of 16 months, 12,575 individuals were tested for HIV, resulting in 33 (0.26%) new HIV diagnoses, of whom 30 (90%) were successfully linked to care. Universal screening also identified 74 out-of-care for >12-months HIV+ individuals of whom 50 (68%) were successfully relinked to care. Over a one-month period, HCV antibody tests were conducted in 905 individuals with a seropositivity rate of 9.9% (90/905); 61 seropositives who were newly identified or never treated for HCV had HCV RNA testing, of which 31 (51%) resulted positive (3.4% of all participants, including 18 newly identified RNA positives representing 2% of all participants), and 13/31 individuals (42%) were linked to care. The rate of newly diagnosed HCV infections exceeded the rate of newly diagnosed HIV infections by >7-fold, underlining the importance of HCV screening in EDs.

Population-based screening of hepatitis C virus in the United States

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review summarized the recent evidence on the performance of population-based hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening, published and indexed to PubMed, in the Unite States during the 2-year window from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2018.

RECENT FINDINGS

A majority of the selected articles in this review focused on the birth cohort 1945-1965 because of the HCV screening recommendations released after August 2012. However, the articles for the high-risk population applied to all ages because the recommendations for this specific population have remained largely unchanged since 1998. The reported rates of HCV screening varied substantially not only across the three different populations (i.e. general, underserved, and high-risk) but also within each population.

SUMMARY

More vigilant monitoring of HCV screening performance of younger birth cohorts is needed as these individuals have been experiencing a higher incidence of HCV infection than those in the birth cohort 1945-1965. In addition, to meet the goal of eliminating HCV infection as a US public health problem by 2030, significant improvement in more accurately and comprehensively reporting the trends in population-based HCV screening across different populations is warranted in the future.

Development of a Comprehensive Dataset of Hepatitis C Patients and Examination of Disease Epidemiology in the United States, 2013-2016

INTRODUCTION

Chronic infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a leading cause of liver disease and infectious disease deaths. While recent and emerging treatment options for HCV patients have enabled higher rates of sustained virologic response (SVR), the demographic, clinical, geographic, and payer characteristics of the estimated 3.4 million chronic HCV patients in the USA are poorly understood. The goal of this study was to create a dataset describing the current HCV patient landscape in the USA.

METHODS

Data from two large national laboratory companies representing the majority of US patients screened for HCV antibody and/or tested for HCV RNA from 2013 through 2016 were organized into the present study dataset. Age, gender, payer channel, 3-digit ZIP code and ordering physician specialty, and 3-digit ZIP code information were available for all patients. Among RNA-positive patients, additional clinical characteristics included HCV genotype, fibrosis stage, renal function, and HIV status. Initiating treatment and attaining cure were imputed using data-driven algorithms based on successive RNA viral load measurements.

RESULTS

The number of RNA-positive HCV patients increased from 200,066 patients in 2013 to 469,550 in 2016. The availability of clinical data measurements and rates of treatment initiation increased over the study period, indicating improved care engagement for HCV patients. Treatment and cure rates varied by age, disease severity, geographic location, and payer channel. Sensitivity and specificity of the cure prediction algorithms were consistently above 0.90, validating the robustness of the data imputation approach.

CONCLUSION

This is the largest, most comprehensive dataset available to describe the current US HCV patient landscape. Our results highlight that the epidemiology of HCV is evolving with an increasing number of patients who are younger and have milder disease than described in previous years. Results of this study should help guide efforts toward the elimination of HCV in this country. Future work will focus on factors associated with varying treatment and cure patterns and describing recent changes in the HCV patient landscape.

FUNDING

AbbVie. Plain language summary available for this article.