Acute hepatitis C infection among adults with HIV in the Netherlands between 2003 and 2016: a capture–recapture analysis for the 2013 to 2016 period

Abstract

Background: With regards to the global strategy towards eliminating viral hepatitis, reliable surveillance systems are essential to assess the national response for eliminating hepatitis C virus (HCV). Aim: We aimed to assess the completeness of the two national registries with data on acute HCV infection in people with HIV, and estimated the number of acute HCV infections among adults (aged ≥ 18 years) with HIV in the Netherlands. Methods: In this observational study, cases of HCV infection and reinfection among adults with a positive or unknown HIV-serostatus were identified from 2003 to 2016 in two national registries: the ATHENA cohort and the National Registry for Notifiable Diseases. For 2013-2016, cases were linked, and two-way capture-recapture analysis was carried out.Results: During 2013-2016, there were an estimated 282 (95% confidence interval (CI): 264-301) acute HCV infections among adults with HIV. The addition of cases with an unknown HIV-serostatus increased the matches (from n = 107 to n = 129), and subsequently increased the estimated total: 330 (95%CI: 309-351). Under-reporting was estimated at 14-20%. Conclusion: Under-reporting of acute HCV infection among people with HIV could partially be explained by an unknown HIV-serostatus, or by differences in HCV stage (acute or chronic) at first diagnosis. Surveillance data should ideally include both acute and chronic HCV infections, and enable to distinguish these as well as initial-and re-infections. National surveillance of acute HCV can be improved by increased notification of infections.

Low hepatitis C virus-viremia prevalence yet continued barriers to direct-acting antiviral treatment in people living with HIV in the Netherlands

“…Our study included data from a large cohort involving nearly all PWH in care in the Netherlands. Furthermore, a recent capture-recapture analysis showed that between 2013 and 2016 99% of acute HCV infections of HIV-positive individuals registered in the Dutch National Registry for Notifiable Diseases were captured in the ATHENA cohort [25]. Thus, we believe that the coverage of data offered by the ATHENA cohort is sufficient to understand issues related to DAA treatment access at a wide-reaching level.…”

Estimating regional prevalence of chronic hepatitis C with a capture-recapture analysis

“…Previous studies successfully adopted the capture-recapture method for monitoring and surveillance of infectious diseases. Similarly to our approach, Boender et al linked the Dutch HIV Monitoring Foundation and the National Registry for Notifiable Diseases to assess annual HIV incidence [ 17 ]. In France, a more extensive three source capture-recapture analysis incorporated variables of heterogeneous catchability to estimate the HIV incidence rate in children [ 18 ].…”

Estimating human leishmaniasis burden in Spain using the capture-recapture method, 2016–2017

“…Although this method has been applied in other countries to analyse leishmaniasis incidence, such as Brazil, Argentina and Bolivia [21][22][23], it is the first time, to our knowledge, that it has been used in a country belonging to the WHO European region. Nevertheless, this type of study has been useful at the European level to estimate the incidence of other infections that cause a large burden of disease such as hepatitis C or malaria [24,25].…”