Hepatitis C Prevalence on the Rise but Screening at Safety Net Institutions Lagging behind

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of liver disease and death in the US.
• Acute HCV infections are rising, linked to intravenous drug use and the opioid crisis.
• Current CDC guidelines recommend universal HCV screening for adults.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess HCV screening rates and prevalence within a specific community in Long Island, NY.
• To identify demographic characteristics of individuals with HCV in the study population.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of electronic medical records (EMR) for patients aged 18+ from 2012-2019.
• Identification of patients born between 1945-1965 for HCV antibody testing analysis.
• Analysis of demographic data, intravenous drug use history, and HIV coinfection status.

Main Results:

• Only 8.5% of the 21,722 identified patients born between 1945-1965 were screened for HCV.
• A 5.9% HCV antibody prevalence was detected, with 3.0% active infection.
• HCV prevalence was higher in Caucasian males and persons who inject drugs (PWID).

Conclusions:

• Significant missed opportunities for HCV screening exist in safety net hospitals.
• The community's HCV prevalence (5.9%) exceeds national and state averages.
• Broader screening initiatives and targeted resource allocation are crucial to reduce HCV burden.