“…Despite the increased response rates, the time burden imposed by telephone interviewing and citation no-shows precluded extension of this approach to all potential participants. In line with our results, another study in Barcelona, Spain, based on invitation for a blood HCV test by ordinary mail, showed an even lower response rate (4.11%: 238 participants out of 5,793 letters sent) [18]. Successful recruitment in this type of population studies probably requires different approaches and better communication strategies, including the use of the media and social networks, especially in younger populations and in urban areas [19].…”
BackgroundData on the true prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the general population is essential. We evaluated a program implementing free universal HCV screening using a non-invasive point-of-care test (POCT) (OraQuick-HCV rapid test) in oral fluid in an urban area in Valencia, South-Eastern Spain.
MethodsA cross-sectional study was performed during 2015-2017. Free HCV screening was offered by regular mail to 11,500 individuals aged 18 and over, randomly selected from all census residents in the Health Department. All responding participants filled in a questionnaire about HCV infection risk factors and were tested in their tertiary Hospital. In those with a positive POCT, results were confirmed by enzyme-immunoassay and HCV-RNA.
“…Despite the increased response rates, the time burden imposed by telephone interviewing and citation no-shows precluded extension of this approach to all potential participants. In line with our results, another study in Barcelona, Spain, based on invitation for a blood HCV test by ordinary mail, showed an even lower response rate (4.11%: 238 participants out of 5,793 letters sent) [18]. Successful recruitment in this type of population studies probably requires different approaches and better communication strategies, including the use of the media and social networks, especially in younger populations and in urban areas [19].…”
BackgroundData on the true prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the general population is essential. We evaluated a program implementing free universal HCV screening using a non-invasive point-of-care test (POCT) (OraQuick-HCV rapid test) in oral fluid in an urban area in Valencia, South-Eastern Spain.
MethodsA cross-sectional study was performed during 2015-2017. Free HCV screening was offered by regular mail to 11,500 individuals aged 18 and over, randomly selected from all census residents in the Health Department. All responding participants filled in a questionnaire about HCV infection risk factors and were tested in their tertiary Hospital. In those with a positive POCT, results were confirmed by enzyme-immunoassay and HCV-RNA.
“…Four estimates were available for Spain, of which only one was of higher quality and reported an anti-HCV prevalence of 1·1% [31]. The others ranged from 0·4% in Barcelona [32] and 0·6% in Murcia and Madrid [33] to 1·5% in multiple GP practices around Barcelona [32]. Fig.…”
“…Studies have shown that if patients are found and treated before cirrhotic impairment they would have life expectancy similar to that of uninfected people [25]. If the patients progress to cirrhosis before the treatment initiation, viral eradication would eliminate the risk of liver failure and would significantly reduce the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma [26].…”
Section: Screening and Diagnosis Of Chronic Hcv Infection In Bulgariamentioning
Background: Chronic HCV infection is one of the leading causes of chronic liver disease and places significant health and economic burden worldwide. In Bulgaria blood and blood products weren`t screened before 1992. Currently there is no official national screening program and diagnosis is usually accidental and in more advanced stages of the disease. Methods and materials: A synthetic, population-based decision tree with Markov chain model compares the current practice (No screening) with possible screening program among (Screening) the people aged 39-64 as a part of the routine prophylaxis program. A Markov chain model was built at the end every decision node of the patients without Sustained Viral Response (SVR) to find how they will progress for the observed period. Results: Possible national screening would lead to almost 4 times higher number of patients diagnosed at early stages of the infection, almost 2 to 4 times higher number of patients with access to treatment and decrease in the HCV-related expected mortality. Expected life years gained in the Screening alternative are almost 2 (10 417 LYGs) and 4 times (22 715 LYGs) higher compared to the current situation (4798 LYGs), respectively. Only 45% of the people however perform routine prophylaxis. Conclusion: National screening is considered as effective health care measure to fight chronic diseases because through active search we can find asymptomatic patients. Initiation of treatment in early stages of hepatitis C infection is more effective and decreases the mortality rates.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
