Identifying Patient and Provider-specific Gaps in Care Among Patients With Hepatitis B

To examine patient, provider, and health system barriers to clinical follow-up among US veterans with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Studies have demonstrated deficiencies in clinical care and follow-up in HBV; however, patient, provider, and health-system barriers in non-Asian populations are understudied.

A retrospective cohort of 517 US veterans with chronic HBV at 3 diverse Veterans Affairs sites from 1999 to 2015. Laboratory testing and completion of clinical appointments were collected for 2 years following initial presentation.

Among HBV patients, 36% had drug abuse, 41% alcohol misuse, and 45% had psychiatric disorders. Patients had an average of 4.4 primary care visits within 2 years of the index hepatitis B surface antigen positive result, 38% had psychiatry visits, 21% had a psychiatric hospitalization; 26% saw gastroenterology/hepatology specialists. Within 1 year of the index hepatitis B surface antigen positive result, 75% had alanine aminotransferase testing, 14% had HBV entered into the problem list, and 8% had serologic confirmation. In multivariable analyses, cirrhosis [odds ratio (OR)=3.42; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.84-6.36] was associated with higher odds of appropriate laboratory testing, alcohol misuse (OR=0.45; 95% CI, 0.29-0.80) was associated lower odds. Cirrhosis (OR=2.03; 95% CI, 1.11-3.72) and ≥2 primary care visits per year (OR=1.06; 95% CI, 1.01-1.11) were associated with higher odds of completing gastroenterology/hepatology consultation, whereas ≥1 psychiatric hospitalization in 2 years was associated with lower odds (OR=0.53; 95% CI, 0.34-0.82).

In a diverse cohort of veterans with high psychiatric comorbidity and substance abuse, important patient and provider factors influence appropriate follow-up care. Future studies should evaluate the impact of provider education and care coordination strategies in HBV.