Effectiveness of a screening program for hepatitis C

Dig Dis Sci. 2006 May;51(5):976-81. doi: 10.1007/s10620-006-9100-x. Epub 2006 Apr 27.

Abstract

We sought to determine the outcomes of a screening program for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Of 536 veterans initially screened between July 2000 and June 2001 for risk factors and then tested positive for antibody for HCV, only 260 (48.5%) kept their initial appointments for further evaluation; 51 were not viremic and only 19 (9.1%) were treatment eligible. Of the 276 who did not keep their initial appointments, 92 were subsequently evaluated over the next 2 years and 23 (25%) were treatment eligible, along with another 15 from the first group. Thus, with appropriate intervention and long-term follow-up, there were 57 treatment candidates. In conclusion, most veterans who tested positive either failed to keep their appointment or were ineligible for treatment when first evaluated. Over the following 2 years, some were lost to follow-up, many continued to have contraindication(s) to antiviral therapy, and relatively few were treatment candidates.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alanine Transaminase / blood
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Hepatitis C / diagnosis*
  • Hepatitis C Antibodies / blood*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mass Screening / methods*
  • Middle Aged
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care
  • Risk Factors
  • United States
  • Veterans*
  • Viremia / diagnosis*

Substances

  • Hepatitis C Antibodies
  • Alanine Transaminase