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Hepatitis C screening beyond CDC guidelines in an Egyptian immigrant community
Ponni V Perumalswami1, F DeWolfe Miller, Hesham Orabee
1Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
Summary
Egyptian-born individuals in NYC face a high hepatitis C virus (HCV) burden. A targeted screening program successfully identified infections and linked patients to care, demonstrating effective community outreach for viral hepatitis.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- High risk of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among Egyptian-born persons in the U.S.
- Lack of awareness and healthcare access for this population
- Need for targeted screening and linkage to care
Purpose of the Study:
- To screen Egyptian-born persons in the New York City area for HCV
- To link identified cases to appropriate medical care
- To assess the prevalence and risk factors of HCV in this community
Main Methods:
- Establishment of the Hepatitis Outreach Network (HONE) through a partnership
- Community-based screening events for HCV
- Collaboration with academic institutions and community organizations
Main Results:
- 192 Egyptian-born persons screened, with 15.6% testing HCV positive
- HCV prevalence increased with age, years of residence in Egypt, and rural residency
- 60% of HCV-positive individuals received medical evaluation, with 75% of those evaluated recommended for or beginning treatment
Conclusions:
- Egyptian-born persons in NYC have a significant HCV disease burden
- The HONE program successfully implemented targeted screening and linkage to care
- Community-based interventions are effective for managing viral hepatitis in at-risk populations
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