Introduction: Hepatitis C virus infection is a major cause of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. The risk of developing cirrhosis for people with chronic infection with the virus ranges from 15% to 30% over a 20-year period. According to 2019 data from the World Health Organization there are 58 million people living with chronic hepatitis C infection. Three-quarters of those infected live in low- to middle-income countries, some of which lack budgets for screening, diagnosis and treatment campaigns. While good progress has been made in several countries, a significant gap in testing and treatment remains. Barriers to timely diagnosis include lack of awareness on the part of health professionals, availability and access to screening tests. Simplifying the cascade of care for this pathology would help ensure that more patients remain involved in the care pathway and ultimately achieve global goals.
Objective: To estimate the prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies in patients with risk factors for hepatitis C virus captured by opportunity screening in the included hospital institutions.
Methodology: Descriptive multicenter cross-sectional study. A total of 27160 participants among the seven institutions, 3880 per institution. Includes all persons over 18 years of age attended in the included health service provider institutions (IPS) who are users of hospitalization, emergency, outpatient and any other hospital care services. Application of a questionnaire to identify the inclusion criteria and data collection, signature of informed consent, sample collection by rapid test Abbott HCV rapid test - BIOLINE HCV and evaluation by tele-consultation by hepatologist principal investigator who will guide you to access the confirmatory test for HCV (viral load for Hepatitis C), the study will assume responsibility for its realization.
Over 50 years of age with no risk factors.
Over 18 years old and less than 50 years old with risk factors for hepatitis C. Persons who have received medical or dental interventions in health care settings.
Individuals previously treated for HCV with sustained viral response in whom reinfection is suspected (individuals who continue to engage in risk behaviors)
Accept to participate in the study by signing the informed consent form.
Have or have had hepatitis C with a proven cure by viral load at 12 weeks after the end of treatment without risk behaviors for reinfection.
Be on antiviral treatment against chronic hepatitis C virus.
That the patient voluntarily and consciously refuses to sign the informed consent form or is unable to give it due to any type of physical and/or mental disability.
Asociación Colombiana de Hepatología
Lead sponsor
Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe
Collaborator