Associated screening for HCV and SARS‐Cov2 infection in an urban area of Southern Italy: A cohort study

Coppola, Carmine; Masarone, Mario; Bartoli, Marco; Staiano, Laura; Coppola, Roberta; Torre, Pietro; Conforti, Massimiliano; Amoruso, Daniela Caterina; Gardini, Ivan; Persico, Marcello

doi:10.1111/jvh.13623

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“… 3 , 4 Among the efforts to counter this scenario, it was proposed to exploit the current pandemic to enhance hepatitis C screening. 5 The first experiences of combined HCV/SARS‐CoV‐2 testing have already been carried out, 6 , 7 while although it was proposed, 8 there are still no data on the combination of screening for hepatitis C and SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination. For these reasons, we started a screening program for hepatitis C simultaneously with the SARS‐CoV‐2 testing or vaccination.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hepatitis C screening during SARS‐CoV‐2 testing or vaccination. Experience in an area of southern Italy in the province of Salerno

Torre

Annunziata

Sciorio

et al. 2022

Liver International

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hepatitis C screening during SARS‐CoV‐2 testing or vaccination. Experience in an area of southern Italy in the province of Salerno

Torre

Annunziata

Sciorio

et al. 2022

Liver International

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“…Several barriers, the most important one being the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, have not allowed the full implementation of this program of HCV screening [ 11 , 12 ]. However, to overcome multiple obstacles, a variety of strategies were applied in Italy during the COVID-19 pandemic [ 13 , 14 ]. This study was conducted on patients consecutively admitted to a large referral hospital in Naples, Italy, to evaluate the feasibility of a hospital HCV-opportunistic-screening during the period of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions (January 2020–May 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Elimination of Hepatitis C in Southern Italy: A Model of HCV Screening and Linkage to Care among Hospitalized Patients at Different Hospital Divisions

Rosato¹,

Kondili

Nevola³

et al. 2022

Viruses

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Background: Free-of-charge HCV screening in some key populations and in 1969–1989 birth cohorts has been funded in Italy as the first step to diagnosing individuals who are infected but asymptomatic. The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of an opportunistic HCV screening and its linkage to care. Methods: A hospital-based HCV screening was conducted as a routine test for in-patients admitted to the Evangelical Hospital Betania of Naples from January 2020 to May 2021. All consecutive in-patients were screened for the HCV antibody (HCV-Ab) at the time of their admission to the hospital, and those born prior to year 2000 were included in the study. HCV-RNA testing was required for those not previously treated and without antiviral treatment contraindications. For in-patients with an active infection, treatment started soon after hospital admission. Results: Among 12,665 inpatients consecutively screened, 510 (4%) were HCV-Ab positive. The HCV-Ab positivity rate increased with age, reaching the highest prevalence (9.49%) in those born before 1947. Among patients positive for HCV, 118 (23.1%) had been previously treated, 172 (33.9%) had been discharged before being tested for HCV-RNA, and 26 (5.1%) had not been tested for short life expectancy. Of 194 (38% of HCV-Ab+) patients who were tested for HCV-RNA, 91 (46.2%) were HCV-RNA positive. Of patients with active infection, 33 (36%) were admitted to the liver unit with signs of liver damage either not previously diagnosed or diagnosed but unlinked to care for HCV infection. Of the patients positive for HCV-RNA, 87 (95.6%) started treatment; all achieved sustained virological response. Conclusion: HCV active infection has been frequently found in patients with comorbidities admitted in the hospital in Southern Italy. To achieve HCV elimination in Italy, broader screening strategies are required. In addition to screening of the 1969–1989 birth cohort of individuals unaware of their infection status, diagnosis and linkage to care of patients with known liver damage is strictly required. Hospital screening is feasible, but prompt reflex testing for identifying HCV-active infections is necessary to increase diagnosis and subsequent linkage to care.

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“…Patients with an SVR accounted for 3%-87% of seropositive individuals in studies, including also individuals already cured with antivirals. [74][75][76][77][78][79][80][81][82][83] Overall, only 3 studies excluded individuals who already knew of their HCV status (i.e. anti-HCV positivity).…”

Section: [France Belgium the Netherlands Luxembourg Germany Switzerla...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Interestingly, an active HCV infection was found in 7%–74% of anti‐HCV positive subjects with HCV‐RNA testing available. Patients with an SVR accounted for 3%–87% of seropositive individuals in studies, including also individuals already cured with antivirals 74–83 . Overall, only 3 studies excluded individuals who already knew of their HCV status (i.e.…”

Section: Southern Europementioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence of HCV infection in Europe in the DAA era: Review

D'Ambrosio,

Anolli,

Pugliese

et al. 2024

Liver International

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In 2016, the Global Health Sector Strategy, ratified by the 69th World Health Assembly, set the ambitious goal of eliminating hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus infections by 2030, emphasizing the importance of national screening programmes. Achieving this goal depends on each country's ability to identify and treat 80% of chronic hepatitis C cases, a critical threshold set by the World Health Organization. Traditionally, estimates of HCV prevalence have been based on interferon era studies that focused on high‐risk subgroups rather than the general population. In addition, the incomplete data available from national registries also limited the understanding of HCV prevalence. The 2016 report from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control highlighted that HCV rates varied across European counties, ranging from .1% to 5.9%. However, data were only available for 13 countries, making the overall picture less clear. Additionally, the epidemiological data may have underestimated the true burden of HCV due to lack of awareness among those with chronic infection. The main objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive summary of HCV epidemiology in Europe in the current era of direct‐acting antivirals (DAAs). The data included in the analysis range from the end of 2013 to December 2023 and have been categorised according to the United Nations Geoscheme. The resulting synthesis underscores the noteworthy impact of DAA treatment on the epidemiological situation.

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Associated screening for HCV and SARS‐Cov2 infection in an urban area of Southern Italy: A cohort study

Cited by 5 publications

References 7 publications

Hepatitis C screening during SARS‐CoV‐2 testing or vaccination. Experience in an area of southern Italy in the province of Salerno

Hepatitis C screening during SARS‐CoV‐2 testing or vaccination. Experience in an area of southern Italy in the province of Salerno

Elimination of Hepatitis C in Southern Italy: A Model of HCV Screening and Linkage to Care among Hospitalized Patients at Different Hospital Divisions

Prevalence of HCV infection in Europe in the DAA era: Review

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