ReLink strategy in diagnosed-but-untreated hepatitis C-positive patients in Germany: report from a single center.

Abstract

The ReLink project aims to reintegrate diagnosed-but-untreated hepatitis-C-positive patients into medical care and initiate a therapy. A retrospective search within the practice management system of a single center in Germany identified among 1965 hepatitis-C-positive patients 100untreated patients with available contact details and meeting all inclusion criteria. Patients were contacted by 2contact rounds. Out of 100patients, 64% were male. Most patients (81%) were aged between 30and59years. The patients belonged to high-risk groups for hepatitisC virus infections or had other comorbidities. The majority of patients injected drugs (21%) and/or were currently or had been on substitution therapy (44%); alcohol addiction was also frequent (21%). Out of 25patients who agreed to an appointment, 10patients (40%) started therapy and 5additional patients (20%) agreed to therapy but were not yet able to start or had not yet made a decision. One‑third of patients who agreed to an appointment did not show up. Diagnosed-but-untreated patients are an important subgroup of hepatitis-C-positive patients; their recall to the clinic for direct-acting antiviral therapy is possible. However, inaccurate contact information, unresponsiveness to outreach, and further reluctance to attend doctor appointments limited the overall impact of this program. Regular review of the patients' contact details may facilitate both follow-up and recall.