Efficiency of opportunistic population screening in a gastrointestinal endoscopy unit as a hepatitis C elimination...

To assess the feasibility and acceptance of an opportunistic population-based screening program in a gastrointestinal endoscopy unit as a hepatitis C elimination strategy.

A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Digestive Endoscopy Unit of a hospital in Spain between February 2019 and 2020.

The participation rate was 99.6%, and 4701 individuals were evaluated. The median age was 60 years, and 53.4% were women. A total of 70 participants were positive for hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies. The seroprevalence was 1.49% [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.14-1.84%]. Less than one-third of the HCV antibody-positive subjects were unaware of their condition. The overall active HCV infection prevalence was 0.26% (95% CI: 0.11-0.41%). The most frequent risk factors were previous surgical interventions and drug consumption. Approximately 80% of the anti-HCV-positive individuals were born between 1950 and 1980.

Opportunistic screening of HCV-infected patients older than 40 years could contribute to the identification of HCV-infected patients and linkage to care for hepatitis C elimination at the hospital level. Gastrointestinal endoscopy units can be a good setting for opportunistic screening.