Study Suggests Broader Screening For Hepatitis C

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Study Suggests Broader Screening For Hepatitis C

17 Mar 2012

Broader screening to identify people infected with hepatitis C virus

(HCV) would likely be cost effective, according to a new report

published in Clinical Infectious Diseases and available

online. Significantly reducing HCV-related mortality and morbidity,

however, will require a coordinated effort that emphasizes not only

increased testing but also linking those infected with the treatment

they need.

The HCV epidemic peaked many years ago, but roughly 4 million U.S.

residents still suffer the consequences of chronic hepatitis C. A

growing proportion of those infected now has advanced disease,

including cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer. Deaths from

chronic infection have doubled over the last decade and are expected

to more than double again by 2030.

The current "risk factor-based approach to screening has failed to

identify at least half of those infected, leading to a situation in

which a quarter of those newly diagnosed already suffer from

cirrhosis of the liver," said Dr. O. Coffin, who led a team

of researchers, including Drs. D. , R. Golden, and

D. Sullivan, at the University of Washington in Seattle who

estimated the cost-effectiveness and impact of HCV screening.

Adding a one-time screening for all adults between the ages of 20

and 69 and factoring in the costs of managing late-stage liver

fibrosis versus the costs of attempting to cure patients of

hepatitis C, Dr. Coffin's team used statistical modeling techniques

to analyze the benefit of broadening screening guidelines. They

found that screening all adults was cost effective across a wide

range of assumptions related to the costs and effects of screening

and treatment. At the same time, the proportion of deaths averted by

screening is likely to be relatively small, unless testing efforts

are accompanied by substantial increases in successful referral of

infected persons for treatment.

"The stealth epidemic of hepatitis C has finally matured, leaving a

narrow window of opportunity to find those with advancing disease,

connect them with care, and prevent the tragic and costly

consequences of liver cancer and end-stage liver disease," Dr.

Coffin said. Doctors are hampered by current overly narrow screening

guidelines, and managing chronic HCV infection becomes increasingly

expensive as it progresses.

"We need to screen the population, but that won't be enough to make

a big difference," Dr. Coffin said. "Hepatitis C is a lot like HIV.

The U.S. took a long time to come to the conclusion that we needed

to really emphasize testing and efforts to link people to care.

Hepatitis C is the same. We need a large scale, coordinated effort

to identify people with this infection and make sure they get the

care they need."

References:

Infectious

Diseases Society of America

Citations:

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MLA

Infectious Diseases Society of

America. "Study Suggests Broader Screening For Hepatitis C."

Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl., 17 Mar. 2012. Web.

30 Mar. 2012.

<http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/242948.php>

APA

Infectious Diseases Society of

America. (2012, March 17). "Study Suggests Broader Screening For

Hepatitis C." Medical News Today. Retrieved from

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/242948.php.

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