Study: Many Hep C Patients Do Not Complete Treatment

Many patients with hepatitis C (HCV) are lost in each of the various stages of care while trying to manage their disease, according to a recent study.

Note: Researchers definied the stages of care—or HCV care continuum—as HCV antibody screening, HCV RNA confirmation, engagement in medical care, and treatment.
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For the study, researchers examined 1,584,848 residents of Philadelphia.

The Philadelphia department of Public Health received positive test scores for HCV in 13,596 participants between January 2010 and December 2013.

Of the participants, only 27% (1745 individuals) were in care and 956 (15%) had received treatment or were being treated.

The investigators calculated population estimates using the 2010 US Census in tandem with data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Researchers noted that accounted for high risks groups including those who were incarcerated or homeless (and therefore not represented in NHANES estimates).

“This continuum provides a ‘real-life’ snapshot of how this disease is being managed in a major US urban center. Many patients are lost at each stage, highlighting the need to raise awareness among health care professionals and at-risk populations about appropriate hepatitis testing, referral, support, and care,” according to the authors.

The complete study is published in the December issue of Hepatology.

-Michelle Canales

Reference:

Viner K, Kunico D, Newbern EC, et al. The continuum of hepatitis C testing and care. Hepatology. 2014 December [epub ahead of print] doi: 10.1002/hep.27584.