Utilizing public health data to geotarget hepatitis C virus elimination approaches in urban and rural Michigan

Eileen M Weinheimer-Haus; Xianshi Yu; Amit G Singal; Keith B Naylor; Candice Ammori; Joseph Coyle; Brahmajee K Nallamothu; Wyndy Witala; Ji Zhu; Akbar K Waljee

doi:10.1111/jvh.13438

Utilizing public health data to geotarget hepatitis C virus elimination approaches in urban and rural Michigan

J Viral Hepat. 2021 Feb;28(2):440-444. doi: 10.1111/jvh.13438. Epub 2020 Nov 27.

Authors

Eileen M Weinheimer-Haus^{1

2}, Xianshi Yu³, Amit G Singal⁴, Keith B Naylor⁵, Candice Ammori⁶, Joseph Coyle⁷, Brahmajee K Nallamothu^{2

8}, Wyndy Witala⁹, Ji Zhu³, Akbar K Waljee^{1

2

9}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
² Michigan Integrated Center for Health Analytics & Medical Prediction (MiCHAMP), Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
³ Department of Statistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
⁴ Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
⁵ Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
⁶ Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
⁷ Communicable Disease Division, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Lansing, MI, USA.
⁸ Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
⁹ VA Center for Clinical Management Research, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.

PMID: 33184976
DOI: 10.1111/jvh.13438

Abstract

Using Michigan public health data, we assessed geographical access to specialist providers for hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment in urban and rural areas in Michigan and explored correlates of HCV in these areas to help inform HCV elimination planning and resource allocations. We found higher HCV incidence in urban areas, lower treatment specialist access in rural areas, but few correlates of HCV across adult populations in both areas. State and local HCV elimination planning should include population-based screening among all adults and address geographical barriers to care.

Keywords: hepatitis C elimination; hepatitis C policy; rurality; treatment access.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Hepacivirus*
Hepatitis C* / epidemiology
Humans
Michigan / epidemiology
Public Health
Rural Population