Mario Masarone1, Rosa Caruso2, Andrea Aglitti1, Carmine Izzo2, Giuseppe De Matteis3, Maria Rosaria Attianese3, Antonio Maria Pagano3, Marcello Persico4. 1. Internal Medicine and Hepatology Division, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy. 2. Internal Medicine and Hepatology Division, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy; Department of Territorial Activities, Simple Departmental Operating Unit for the Protection of Adult and Minor Health, Criminal Area, ASL Salerno, Salerno, Italy. 3. Department of Territorial Activities, Simple Departmental Operating Unit for the Protection of Adult and Minor Health, Criminal Area, ASL Salerno, Salerno, Italy. 4. Internal Medicine and Hepatology Division, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy. Electronic address: mpersico@unisa.it.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: An unmet objective in the pursuit of HCV elimination is the creation of a simple and fast operating model to identify difficult-to-treat populations, like prisoners. Of many obstacles, the first is represented by the poor knowledge of inmates HCV-Ab prevalence. Moreover, due to the peculiar status of conviction, often their access to antiviral therapy is neglected. AIMS: To evaluate the prevalence of HCV infection in a penitentiary Institution of Southern Italy through a point-of-care screening and treatment program. METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational study in two phases: first, we reviewed all the prisoners' clinical records, to verify HCV-Ab execution. Subsequently, we performed a universal point-of-care screening and treatment program. RESULTS: We enrolled 670 patients. Overall, 310(46.27%) were already HCV-Ab tested. At the screening initiation, 23.28% patients were discharged, whereas 8.35% refused. Of the remaining 458 subjects, 58(12.67%) were HCV-Ab positive and 46 HCVRNA positive. All these underwent DAA, obtaining 100% SVR. At the end of the program, a total of 491(73.28%) subjects had HCV-Ab available. Sixty-nine (14.05%) were positive. A total of 214(31.94%) subjects were lost to follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: We revealed a prevalence of 14.05% of HCV-Ab in conviction. Antiviral treatment was safe and efficacious. More efforts are advisable to provide screening for HCV-Ab in conviction.
BACKGROUND: An unmet objective in the pursuit of HCV elimination is the creation of a simple and fast operating model to identify difficult-to-treat populations, like prisoners. Of many obstacles, the first is represented by the poor knowledge of inmates HCV-Ab prevalence. Moreover, due to the peculiar status of conviction, often their access to antiviral therapy is neglected. AIMS: To evaluate the prevalence of HCV infection in a penitentiary Institution of Southern Italy through a point-of-care screening and treatment program. METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational study in two phases: first, we reviewed all the prisoners' clinical records, to verify HCV-Ab execution. Subsequently, we performed a universal point-of-care screening and treatment program. RESULTS: We enrolled 670 patients. Overall, 310(46.27%) were already HCV-Ab tested. At the screening initiation, 23.28% patients were discharged, whereas 8.35% refused. Of the remaining 458 subjects, 58(12.67%) were HCV-Ab positive and 46 HCVRNA positive. All these underwent DAA, obtaining 100% SVR. At the end of the program, a total of 491(73.28%) subjects had HCV-Ab available. Sixty-nine (14.05%) were positive. A total of 214(31.94%) subjects were lost to follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: We revealed a prevalence of 14.05% of HCV-Ab in conviction. Antiviral treatment was safe and efficacious. More efforts are advisable to provide screening for HCV-Ab in conviction.
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