A cost-effectiveness study of universal screening for hepatitis C virus infection in South Korea: A societal perspective

Kim, Hye-Lin; Kim, Kyung-Ah; Choi, Gwang Hyun; Jang, Eun Sun; Ki, Moran; Choi, Hoon; Jeong, Sook‐Hyang

doi:10.3350/cmh.2021.0236

Cited by 15 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 35 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Recent work has shown that in the era of DAA therapy, universal onetime screening for HCV is also cost-effective [11,12]. ere is, however, a lack of Australian data and there is no cost analysis of testing OB patients, though we observe they could be accessed systematically in the emergency department (ED).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Finding Cases of Hepatitis C for Treatment Using Automated Screening in the Emergency Department is Effective, but What Is the Cost?

Prince

Girolamo

Pipicella

et al. 2022

Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Case detection remains a major challenge for hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination. We have previously published results from a pilot of an emergency department (ED) semiautomated screening program, SEARCH; Screening Emergency Admissions at Risk of Chronic HCV. Several refinements to SEARCH have been developed to streamline and reduce cost. All direct costs of HCV testing until direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy initiation were calculated. Cost was assessed in 2018 Australian Dollars. A cost analysis of the initial program and refinements are presented. Sensitivity analysis to understand impact of variation in staff time, laboratory test cost, changes in HCV antibody (Ab) prevalence, RNA positivity percentage, and rate of linkage to care was conducted. Impact of refinements (SEARCH (2)) to cost is presented. The total SEARCH pilot, testing 5000 patients was estimated to cost $110,549.52 (range $92,109.79–$129,581.24) comprising of $68,278.67 for HCV Ab testing, $21,568.99 for follow-up and linkage to care of positive patients and $20,701.86 to prepare HCV RNA positive patients for treatment. Internal program refinements resulted in a 25% cost reduction. Following refinements, the cost of HCV antibody screening was $8.46 per test and the total cost per positive HCV Ab, positive HCV RNA, and per treated patient were $611.77, $2,168.64, and $3,566.11, respectively. Our sensitivity analysis indicates costs per HCV case found are modest so long as HCV Ab prevalence was at least 1%. ED screening is an affordable strategy for HCV case detection and elimination.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Finding Cases of Hepatitis C for Treatment Using Automated Screening in the Emergency Department is Effective, but What Is the Cost?

Prince

Girolamo

Pipicella

et al. 2022

Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This suboptimal diagnosis rate for HCV infection is consistently observed in many studies, underscoring the importance of increased screening and surveillance for unidentified HCV infections 3–5 . In this regard, some countries and societies have adopted universal screening for HCV infection, and numerous efforts have been made to raise awareness about HCV infection and reduce barriers impeding access to the HCV care system 6–11 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improving the hepatitis C virus care cascade with the in‐hospital Reflex tEsting ALarm‐C (REAL‐C) model

Choi,

Park,

Choi

et al. 2024

Liver International

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundThe World Health Organization (WHO) has set targets to eliminate viral hepatitis, including hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, by 2030. We present the results of the in‐hospital Reflex tEsting ALarm‐C (REAL‐C) model, which incorporates reflex HCV RNA testing and sending alerts to physicians.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study analysing the data of 1730 patients who newly tested positive for anti‐HCV between March 2020 and June 2023. Three distinct periods were defined: pre‐REAL‐C (n = 696), incomplete REAL‐C (n = 515) and complete REAL‐C model periods (n = 519). The primary outcome measure was the HCV RNA testing rate throughout the study period. Additionally, we assessed the referral rate to the gastroenterology department, linkage time for diagnosis and treatment and the treatment rate.ResultsThe rate of HCV RNA testing increased significantly from 51.0% (pre‐REAL‐C) to 95.6% (complete REAL‐C). This improvement was consistent across clinical departments, regardless of patients' comorbidities. Among patients with confirmed HCV infection, the gastroenterology referral rate increased from 57.1% to 81.1% after the REAL‐C model. The treatment rate among treatment‐eligible patients was 92.4% during the study period. The mean interval from anti‐HCV positivity to HCV RNA testing decreased from 45.1 to 1.9 days. The mean interval from the detection of anti‐HCV positivity to direct‐acting antiviral treatment also decreased from 89.5 to 49.5 days with the REAL‐C model.ConclusionThe REAL‐C model, featuring reflex testing and physician alerts, effectively increased HCV RNA testing rates and streamlined care cascades. Our model facilitated progress towards achieving WHO's elimination goals for HCV infection.

show abstract

“…Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common cancer with 10% of cases originating from HCV infection in Korea [2]. The rising disease burden of HCV infection also reinforces the goal of the World Health Organization to eradicate HCV infection by 2030 [3] and thereby warrants the need to implement the universal national HCV screening for early diagnosis and implementation of optimal HCV infection treatment [4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comorbidities and the use of comedications among patients with chronic hepatitis C in Korea: A nationwide cross-sectional study

Kwon

Shim

Kim

et al. 2023

Korean J Intern Med

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background/Aims: Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is the second leading cause of liver-related mortality and is more prevalent in the elderly population in Korea. Decisions to initiate treatment and selection of proper antiviral agents may be challenging among elderly patients due to relevant comorbidities, comedications, and drug-drug interaction (DDI). It may be helpful to understand the current demographic status and comorbidities of CHC patients in the country. Methods: Patients aged ≥ 18 years and diagnosed with CHC (KCD-7 code B18.2) were extracted from the Korean Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service database in 2018. Data on comorbidities and comedications were assessed and potential DDIs were analyzed. Results: A total of 50,476 patients with CHC, with a mean age of 60.3 years and 46.7% male patients were identified. The proportion of patients with cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver transplantation was 6.0%, 4.1%, and 0.3%, respecwww.kjim.org

show abstract

A cost-effectiveness study of universal screening for hepatitis C virus infection in South Korea: A societal perspective

Cited by 15 publications

References 35 publications

Finding Cases of Hepatitis C for Treatment Using Automated Screening in the Emergency Department is Effective, but What Is the Cost?

Finding Cases of Hepatitis C for Treatment Using Automated Screening in the Emergency Department is Effective, but What Is the Cost?

Improving the hepatitis C virus care cascade with the in‐hospital Reflex tEsting ALarm‐C (REAL‐C) model

Comorbidities and the use of comedications among patients with chronic hepatitis C in Korea: A nationwide cross-sectional study

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About