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. 2024 Jan 4;17(1):5.
doi: 10.1186/s12245-023-00570-5.

Emergency department contribution to HCV elimination in the Iberian Peninsula

Maria Buti  1 , Inês Vaz-Pinto  2 , Vítor Magno Pereira  3 , Marta Casado  4 , Jordi Llaneras  5 , Ana Barreira  6 , Catarina Esteves  2 , Mafalda Guimarães  2 , Ana Gorgulho  2 , Tomás Mourão  2 , Elisa Xavier  3 , Luís Jasmins  3 , Ana Paula Reis  3 , Nancy Faria  3 , Bruno Freitas  3 , Graça Andrade  3 , Anny Camelo-Castillo  4 , Manuel Ángel Rodríguez-Maresca  4 , Alba Carrodeguas  7 , Diogo Medina  7 , Rafael Esteban  6
Affiliations

Emergency department contribution to HCV elimination in the Iberian Peninsula

Maria Buti et al. Int J Emerg Med. .

Abstract

Background: Undiagnosed cases of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection result in significant morbidity and mortality, further transmission, and increased public health costs. Testing in emergency departments (EDs) is an opportunity to expand HCV screening. The goal of this project was to increase the proportion of eligible patients screened for HCV in urban areas.

Methods: An opportunistic automated HCV screening program was implemented in the EDs of 4 public hospitals in Spain and Portugal at different periods between 2018 and 2023. HCV prevalence was prospectively evaluated, and single-step or reflex testing was used for confirmation in the same sample.

Results: More than 90% of the population eligible for testing were screened in the participating centers. We found HCV antibody seroprevalence rates ranging from 0.6 to 3.9%, with between 19 and 53% of viremic individuals.

Conclusions: Opportunistic HCV screening in EDs is feasible, does not disrupt ED activities, is highly effective in increasing diagnosis, and contributes to WHO's HCV elimination goals.

Keywords: Diagnosis; Emergency department; HCV; Screening.

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Conflict of interest statement

Diogo Medina owns stock in and is an employee of Gilead Sciences. Alba Carrodeguas is an employee of Gilead Sciences. Dr. Buti and Dr. Esteban declare having received honoraria for providing consultancy on advisory board meetings and speaking at symposiums from Gilead Sciences and Abbvie. Dr. Casado received honoraria for lectures and advisory boards from Gilead Sciences, Abbvie, and Intercept. Dr. Vaz Pinto states having received lecture and advisory fees from Gilead, Janssen, and ViiV. Dr. Camelo-Castillo has received travel grants and conference fees from Gilead. Data collection and management were conducted independently, with additional oversight from independent data monitoring agencies. The other authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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