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. 2018 Jan 31:3:5.
doi: 10.1186/s41124-018-0032-9. eCollection 2018.

Re-evaluation of chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C patients lost to follow-up: results of the Northern Holland hepatitis retrieval project

N Beekmans  1 , M Klemt-Kropp  1
Affiliations

Re-evaluation of chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C patients lost to follow-up: results of the Northern Holland hepatitis retrieval project

N Beekmans et al. Hepatol Med Policy. .

Abstract

Background: Many persons infected with Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the past are now lost to follow-up. The aim of the Northern Holland Hepatitis Retrieval Project (NHHRP) is to retrieve and re-evaluate persons previously diagnosed with HBV or HCV and bring them back into care. Chronic HBV infection was defined as two positive Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) tests within 6 months and chronic HCV infection with 2 positive HCV RNA tests by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Methods: Data files of the local public health services and microbiology laboratory were explored to identify all registered HBV and HCV cases in the Alkmaar region, the Netherlands, for the past 15 years. Identified cases were compared with patients currently known in our hospital. Patients without follow-up in primary or hospital care were approached via their primary health care physician and invited for evaluation at our hospital.

Results: In total, 552 cases of HBV were identified. 356 (64.5%) had no follow-up. Only 113/356 (31.7%) were eligible for retrieval and 44.2% were evaluated in our hospital resulting in a change of management in 22/50 (44%) of patients. Four hundred ninety nine cases of HCV were identified, 150/499 (30.1%) were lost to follow-up. Only 20/150 (13.3%) were eligible for retrieval and 4/20 (20%) were evaluated at our clinic. Resulting in a change of management in 3/4 (75%).

Conclusion: Only a limited part of HBV and HCV persons lost to follow-up is eligible for retrieval, nonetheless re-evaluation of these persons will lead to a change of management in the majority of persons.

Keywords: Hepatitis B; Hepatitis C; Public health; Viral hepatitis elimination.

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Conflict of interest statement

The Northern Holland Hepatitis Retrieval Project was approved by the local ethics committee.Not applicableN. Beekmans has received research funding from Gilead Sciences. M. Klemt-Kropp has served as a speaker, a consultant and advisory board member for AbbVie, Roche and Janssen, and has received research funding from Gilead Sciences.Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Retrieval of chronic HBV patients, The flow-chart reflects the results of retrieval of 552 chronic HBV patients
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Retrieval of chronic HCV patients, The flow-charts reflect the results of retrieval of 499 chronic HCV patients
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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