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D'Ambrosio R, Piccinelli S, Beccalli B, Spinetti A, Puoti M, Fagiuoli S, Magni CF, Vavassori A, Sacchi P, Castaldi S, Bombardieri G, Farina C, Buoro S, Amorosi A, Corradin M, Cereda D, Lampertico P. A territory-wide opportunistic, hospital-based HCV screening in the general population from northern Italy: The 1969-1989 birth-cohort. Liver Int 2023; 43:2645-2656. [PMID: 37715524 DOI: 10.1111/liv.15727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM The World Health Organization (WHO) goal of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) elimination by 2030 rose awareness about the need of screening plans, worldwide. In Italy, graduated screening starting from people born in 1969-1989 might be the most-effective strategy. We performed an opportunistic HCV screening study in the general population attending health facilities in Lombardy region, Northern Italy. METHODS This is a prospective, multicenter, territory-wide, opportunistic study supported by the Regional Government of Lombardy, Italy. Between June 2022 and December 2022, all subjects born in 1969-1989, hospitalized or accessing blood collection centres were offered anti-HCV and HCV-RNA tests. Patients with known anti-HCV positivity and/or previous anti-HCV treatment were excluded. Demographic features were uploaded into a regional web-based platform. RESULTS In total, 120 193 individuals were screened in 75 centres. Mean age was 44 (±6) years, 65.2% were females, 83.7% were tested at blood collection centres. Anti-HCV tested positive in 604 (0.50%) subjects: mean age 47 (±5), 51.1% females. HCV seroprevalence was higher in males (p < 0.00001), elderly (p < 0.00001) and in- vs. outpatients (p = 0.0009). HCV-RNA was detectable in 125 out of 441 (28.3%) anti-HCV positive subjects. Actively infected patients were 46 (±6) years old, mainly males (56.8%). The overall prevalence of active HCV infection was 0.10%, higher in elderly (p = 0.0003) and in in-patients (p = 0.0007). Among 93 HCV-RNA positive patients, the median age was 48 years, 58% males, 62% Italian born, median HCV-RNA levels were 6,1 log IU/mL, liver stiffness measurement (LSM) values 5.5 (3.1-29.9) kPa and ALT levels 48 U/L. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of active HCV infection in the 1969-1989 population attending health facilities in Lombardy was low. Most viremic patients were Italian-born, with mild liver disease but high-HCV-RNA levels. Due to the higher prevalence in the elderly, the extension of such opportunistic screening programs to lower birth cohorts would be warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta D'Ambrosio
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Sara Piccinelli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Angiola Spinetti
- Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, AAST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Massimo Puoti
- Division of Infectious Diseases, ASST GOM Niguarda, Milan, Italy
- Department of Medicine, University of Milan Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Fagiuoli
- Department of Medicine, University of Milan Bicocca, Milan, Italy
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Transplantation, ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy
| | | | | | - Paolo Sacchi
- Division of Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Matteo di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Silvana Castaldi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Quality Unit, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Bombardieri
- Microbiology and Virology Laboratory, ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Claudio Farina
- Microbiology and Virology Laboratory, ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Pietro Lampertico
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, CRC "A. M. and A. Migliavacca" Centre for Liver Disease, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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Milestones to reach Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) elimination in Italy: From free-of-charge screening to regional roadmaps for an HCV-free nation. Dig Liver Dis 2022; 54:237-242. [PMID: 33926816 DOI: 10.1016/j.dld.2021.03.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Although Italy has been on track for Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) elimination since 2019, it fell off track due to the decrease in the number of treated patients. HCV elimination in Italy will be possible if immediate action is taken. A health policy was implemented beginning in 2021, consisting of screening among key populations and birth cohorts (1969-1989), estimated to have a high prevalence of undiagnosed individuals. The active screening requires regional governance that manages the processes' complexity integrating a well-organized network between territory assistance and hospital to achieve an effective HCV care cascade. This document aims to support the regional decision-making process by defining paths for screening and linkage-to-care. Implementing active screening strategies beyond a risk-based approach is required as a General Practitioners' task. Simplified paths must be drawn for the key populations screening. The infrastructure built for COVID-19 vaccination could be used also for HCV screening. According to a multidisciplinary care delivery, screening should be supplemented with rapid linkage-to-care and treatment of newly diagnosed patients. The realization of the proactive screening during the first two years is vital because it will define the tracks for the whole HCV cost-effective screening of 1948-1988 birth cohorts in Italy.
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Marcellusi A, Mennini FS, Ruf M, Galli C, Aghemo A, Brunetto MR, Babudieri S, Craxi A, Andreoni M, Kondili LA. Optimizing diagnostic algorithms to advance Hepatitis C elimination in Italy: A cost effectiveness evaluation. Liver Int 2022; 42:26-37. [PMID: 34582627 PMCID: PMC9292516 DOI: 10.1111/liv.15070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Optimized diagnostic algorithms to detect active infections are crucial to achieving HCV elimination. We evaluated the cost effectiveness and sustainability of different algorithms for HCV active infection diagnosis, in a context of a high endemic country for HCV infection. METHODS A Markov disease progression model, simulating six diagnostic algorithms in the birth cohort 1969-1989 over a 10-year horizon from a healthcare perspective was used. Conventionally diagnosis of active HCV infection is through detection of antibodies (HCV-Ab) detection followed by HCV-RNA or HCV core antigen (HCV-Ag) confirmatory testing either on a second sample or by same sample reflex testing. The undiagnosed and unconfirmed rates were evaluated by assays false negative estimates and each algorithm patients' drop-off. Age, liver disease stages distribution, liver disease stage costs, treatment effectiveness and costs were used to evaluate the quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER). RESULTS The reference option was Rapid HCV-Ab followed by second sample HCV-Ag testing which produced the lowest QALYs (866,835 QALYs). The highest gains in health (QALYs=974,458) was obtained by HCV-RNA reflex testing which produced a high cost-effective ICER (€891/QALY). Reflex testing (same sample-single visit) vs two patients' visits algorithms, yielded the highest QALYs and high cost-effective ICERs (€566 and €635/QALY for HCV-Ag and HCV-RNA, respectively), confirmed in 99.9% of the 5,000 probabilistic simulations. CONCLUSIONS Our data confirm, by a cost effectiveness point of view, the EASL and WHO clinical practice guidelines recommending HCV reflex testing as most cost effective diagnostic option vs other diagnostic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Marcellusi
- Economic Evaluation and HTA (EEHTA)CEISFaculty of EconomicsUniversity of Rome “Tor Vergata”RomeItaly
- Institute of Leadership and Management in HealthKingston Business SchoolKingston UniversityLondonUK
| | - Francesco Saverio Mennini
- Economic Evaluation and HTA (EEHTA)CEISFaculty of EconomicsUniversity of Rome “Tor Vergata”RomeItaly
- Institute of Leadership and Management in HealthKingston Business SchoolKingston UniversityLondonUK
| | - Murad Ruf
- Public Health, Medical AffairsGilead ScienceLondonUK
| | - Claudio Galli
- Global Medical and Scientific AffairsCore Laboratory, AbbottRomeItaly
| | - Alessio Aghemo
- Department of Biomedical SciencesHumanitas UniversityPieve EmanueleItaly
- Division of Internal Medicine and HepatologyHumanitas Research Hospital IRCCSRozzanoItaly
| | - Maurizia R. Brunetto
- Internal MedicineDepartment of Clinical and Experimental MedicineUniversity of PisaPisaItaly
- Hepatology Unit and Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Pathology of Hepatitis VirusesUniversity Hospital of PisaPisaItaly
| | - Sergio Babudieri
- Infectious and Tropical Disease UnitDepartment of MedicalSurgical and Experimental SciencesUniversity of SassariSassariItaly
| | - Antonio Craxi
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology UnitDepartment of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties “PROMISE”University of PalermoPalermoItaly
| | - Massimo Andreoni
- Department of Systems MedicineUniversity of Rome “Tor Vergata”RomeItaly
- Infectious Diseases ClinicUniversity Hospital “Tor Vergata”RomeItaly
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