Abstract
BackgroundEffective screening programs are urgently needed to provide undiagnosed hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected individuals with therapy. This systematic review of characteristics and outcomes of screening programs for HCV focuses on strategies to identify HCV risk groups hidden in the general population.MethodsWe conducted a comprehensive search of MEDLINE and EMBASE databases for articles published between 1991–2010, including studies that screened the general population using either a newly developed (nonintegrated) screening program or one integrated in existing health care facilities. Look-back studies, prevalence studies, and programs targeting high-risk groups in care (e.g., current drug users) were excluded.ResultsAfter reviewing 7052 studies, we identified 67 screening programs: 24 nonintegrated; 41 programs integrated in a variety of health care facilities (e.g., general practitioner); and 2 programs with both integrated and nonintegrated strategies. Together, these programs identified approximately 25,700 HCV-infected individuals. In general, higher HCV prevalence was found in programs in countries with intermediate to high HCV prevalence, in psychiatric clinics, and in programs that used a prescreening selection based on HCV risk factors. Only 6 programs used a comparison group for evaluation purposes, and 1 program used theory about effective promotion for screening. Comparison of the programs and their effectiveness was hampered by lack of reported data on program characteristics, clinical follow-up, and type of diagnostic test.ConclusionsA prescreening selection based on risk factors can increase the efficiency of screening in low-prevalence populations, and we need programs with comparison groups to evaluate effectiveness. Also, program characteristics such as type of diagnostic test, screening uptake, and clinical outcomes should be reported systematically.
Highlights
Effective screening programs are urgently needed to provide undiagnosed hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected individuals with therapy
Integrated HCV screening programs We identified 41 HCV screening programs in the following clinics that offer care not related to liver disease: sexually transmittable diseases (STD) clinics (n = 11); GP clinics (n = 10, including two programs that used a nonintegrated approach); Veterans Affairs (VA) clinics (n = 5); antenatal/obstetric/fertility clinics (n = 5); clinics for psychiatric patients (n = 3); and other clinics or services (n = 7)
We noticed relatively high HCV prevalences in programs that used a prescreening selection based on HCV risk factors or migrant status, in programs that were carried out in intermediate to high HCV-prevalence countries or regions, and in programs in psychiatric clinics
Summary
Effective screening programs are urgently needed to provide undiagnosed hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected individuals with therapy. Some of the high risk groups for HCV are relatively easy to reach and have been targeted by screening programs as part of specialized medical care (e.g., current drug users (DUs) on methadone treatment who have injected drugs in the past [15], hemophiliacs [16], and HIV-infected individuals receiving clinical care [17]). The same holds true for individuals who received a blood transfusion before 1992 These groups can be considered as ‘hidden risk groups’ among the general population. A recent study estimated that of the total population of HCV-infected individuals in a highincome country, only 34% are in relatively easy to reach high-risk groups such as hemophiliac patients, HIVinfected patients, and persons with a history of IDU; 41% are first-generation migrants and 25% belong to other risk groups [18]
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