Authors R. BOTTERMAN (1), E. GLORIEUS (1), S. LEFERE (1), X. VERHELST (1), P. VAN DE VOORDE (2), S. HACHIMI IDRISSI (2), A. GEERTS (1), E. PADALKO (3), P. DE PAEPE (2), H. VAN VLIERBERGHE (1) / [1] Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, [2] Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium, Emergency Department, [3] Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium, Clinical Biology
Introduction The US Preventive Servies Task Force recommends one-time hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening of all baby boomers (born 1945-1965). Since about the half of the HCV patients in Belgium are not aware of their disease status, this study investigated if the baby boom cohort effect could be present in our country. It is investigated if age or other variables are predictive factors for HCV.
Aim
The aim is to investigate if HCV screening is opportune in the baby boom cohort in Belgium.
Methods A cross-sectional study was performed from 05/09/2016 until 30/11/2016 at the emergency unit in the Ghent University Hospital. In 1106 patients admitted at the emergency department, after signing informant consent and in need for a blood sample, a HCV ELISA antibody test was performed. A questionnaire on general risk factors for HCV infection was presented to those patients able to fill in this questionnaire.
Results Data of 1106 patients (606 men/500 women) were collected, 376 (34%) were born between 1945-1965, 494 (44.7%) after and 236 (21.3%) before. There was a HCV positive prevalence of 1.9% in the entire patient population. In the baby boom cohort, the prevalence of HCV was 1.6%. In the younger and older tested population respectively 2.02% and 2.12% were positive. A significant correlation was found between positive HCV results and a history of IV drug use. There was no significant correlation between a positive HCV test and age, sex, blood transfusion before 1990 or tattoos and piercings.
Conclusions There is a prevalence of 1.9% of HCV positive patients in a Belgian University hospital. This is higher than has been published previously. 44.7% of the tested patients were part of the baby boom cohort. However, there was no significant correlation between HCV positive results and age or age groups. Only screening in the baby boom group seems not opportune and in contrast to what is seen in the US study, a substantial number of HCV positive patients could be missed by the application of this recommendation. Other approaches need to be studied (eg. screening of the entire population, screening of populations at risk such as previous IV drug use).
