The Role of Multiple Birth and Birth Complications in the Association Between Assisted Reproductive Technology Conception and Autism Diagnosis.

In recent decades, the use of assisted reproductive technology (ART) has increased rapidly. To assess the relationship between ART and autism diagnosis, we linked California birth records from 2000 through 2016 with contemporaneous records from the National ART Surveillance System (NASS) and autism caseload records from California's Department of Developmental Services from 2000 through November 2019. All 95,149 birth records that were successfully linked to a NASS record, indicating an ART birth, were matched 1:1 using propensity scores to non-ART births. We calculated the hazard risk ratio (HRR) for autism diagnosis and the proportions of the relationship between ART conception and autism diagnosis mediated by multiple birth pregnancy and related birth complications. The HRR for autism diagnosis following ART compared with non-ART conception is 1.26 (95% CI, 1.17-1.35). Multiple birth, preterm birth, and Cesarean delivery jointly mediate 77.9% of the relationship between ART conception and autism diagnosis. Thus, increased use of single embryo transfer in the United States to reduce multiple births and related birth complications may be a strategy to address the risk of autism diagnosis among ART-conceived children.

Association of state insurance coverage mandates with assisted reproductive technology care discontinuation.

BACKGROUND: Insurance coverage for fertility services may reduce the financial burden of high-cost fertility care such as assisted reproductive technology and improve its utilization. Patients who exit care after failing to reach their reproductive goals report higher rates of mental health problems and a lower sense of well-being. It is important to understand the relationship between state-mandated insurance coverage for fertility services and assisted reproductive technology care discontinuation. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess whether state-mandated insurance coverage for fertility services is associated with lower rates of care discontinuation after an initial assisted reproductive technology cycle that did not result in a live birth. STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective, population-based cohort study using data from United States fertility clinics reporting to the National Assisted Reproductive Technology Surveillance System during 2016 and 2018. Patients who began their first autologous assisted reproductive technology cycle during 2016 and 2017 and did not have a live birth were included. We describe the rate of assisted reproductive technology care discontinuation (no additional cycle within 12 months of the previous cycle's date of failure). Multivariable analyses were conducted to evaluate factors independently associated with care discontinuation, including the scope of fertility services included in state coverage mandate at assisted reproductive technology cycle initiation that were as follows: comprehensive (≥3 assisted reproductive technology cycles), limited (1, 2, or an unspecified number of assisted reproductive technology cycles), mandate not including assisted reproductive technology, and no mandate. RESULTS: Among 91,324 patients who underwent their first autologous assisted reproductive technology cycle that did not result in live birth, 24,072 (26.4%) discontinued care. Compared with patients who lived in states with mandates for comprehensive assisted reproductive technology coverage, those in states with mandates for fertility services coverage that did not include assisted reproductive technology or states with no mandate were 46% (adjusted relative risk, 1.46; 95% confidence interval, 1.31-1.63) and 26% (adjusted relative risk, 1.26; 95% confidence interval, 1.15-1.39) more likely to discontinue care, respectively, after controlling for patient and cycle characteristics. Increasing patient age, distance from clinic ≥50 miles, previous live birth, fewer oocytes retrieved, and not having embryos cryopreserved were also associated with higher rates of discontinuation. Non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic Asian, and Hispanic patients had higher rates of care discontinuation than non-Hispanic White patients regardless of the existence or scope of state-mandated assisted reproductive technology coverage. CONCLUSION: Comprehensive state-mandated insurance coverage for assisted reproductive technology is associated with lower rates of assisted reproductive technology care discontinuation.

Hepatitis C virus testing for case identification in persons born during 1945-1965: Results from three randomized controlled trials.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and US Preventive Services Task Force recommend one-time hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing for persons born during 1945-1965 (birth cohort). However, few studies estimate the effect of birth cohort (BC) testing implementation on HCV diagnoses in primary care settings. We aimed to determine the probability of identifying HCV infections in primary care using targeted BC testing compared with usual care at three academic medical centers. From December 2012 to March 2014, each center compared one of three distinct interventions with usual care using an independently designed randomized controlled trial. Across centers, BC patients with no clinical documentation of previous HCV testing or diagnosis were randomly assigned to receive a one-time offering of HCV antibody (anti-HCV) testing via one of three independent implementation strategies (repeated-mailing outreach, electronic medical record-integrated provider best practice alert [BPA], and direct patient solicitation) or assigned to receive usual care. We estimated model-adjusted risk ratios (aRR) of anti-HCV-positive (anti-HCV+) identification using BC testing versus usual care. In the repeated mailing trial, 8992 patients (intervention, n = 2993; control, n = 5999) were included in the analysis. The intervention was eight times as likely to identify anti-HCV+ patients compared with controls (aRR, 8.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.8-23.0; adjusted probabilities: intervention, 0.27%; control, 0.03%). In the BPA trial, data from 14,475 patients (BC, n = 8928; control, n = 5,547) were analyzed. The intervention was 2.6 times as likely to identify anti-HCV+ patients versus controls (aRR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.1-6.4; adjusted probabilities: intervention, 0.29%; control, 0.11%). In the patient-solicitation trial, 8873 patients (BC, n = 4307; control, n = 4566) were analyzed. The intervention was five times as likely to identify anti-HCV+ patients compared with controls (aRR, 5.3; 95% CI, 2.3-12.3; adjusted probabilities: intervention, 0.68%; control, 0.11%). Conclusion: BC testing was effective in identifying previously undiagnosed HCV infections in primary care settings. (Hepatology 2018;67:524-533).

Uptake of hepatitis C screening, characteristics of patients tested, and intervention costs in the BEST-C study.

From December 2012 to March 2014, three randomized trials, each implementing a unique intervention in primary care settings (repeated mailing, an electronic health record best practice alert [BPA], and patient solicitation), evaluated hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody testing, diagnosis, and costs for each of the interventions compared with standard-of-care testing. Multilevel multivariable models were used to estimate the adjusted risk ratio (aRR) for receiving an HCV antibody test, and costs were estimated using activity-based costing. The goal of this study was to estimate the effects of interventions conducted as part of the Birth-Cohort Evaluation to Advance Screening and Testing for Hepatitis C study on HCV testing and costs among persons of the 1945-1965 birth cohort (BC). Intervention resulted in substantially higher HCV testing rates compared with standard-of-care testing (26.9% versus 1.4% for repeated mailing, 30.9% versus 3.6% for BPA, and 63.5% versus 2.0% for patient solicitation) and significantly higher aRR for testing after controlling for sex, birth year, race, insurance type, and median household income (19.2 [95% confidence interval (CI), 9.7-38.2] for repeated mailing, 13.2 [95% CI, 3.6-48.6] for BPA, and 32.9 [95% CI, 19.3-56.1] for patient solicitation). The BPA intervention had the lowest incremental cost per completed test ($24 with fixed startup costs, $3 without) and also the lowest incremental cost per new case identified after omitting fixed startup costs ($1691). CONCLUSION: HCV testing interventions resulted in an increase in BC testing compared with standard-of-care testing but also increased costs. The effect size and incremental costs of BPA intervention (excluding startup costs) support more widespread adoption compared with the other interventions. (Hepatology 2017;65:44-53).

An Electronic Health Record-based Intervention to Promote Hepatitis C Virus Testing Among Adults Born Between 1945 and 1965: A Cluster-randomized Trial.

BACKGROUND: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends one-time hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody testing for "Birth Cohort" adults born during 1945-1965. OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact of an electronic health record (EHR)-embedded best practice alert (BPA) for HCV testing among Birth Cohort adults. DESIGN: Cluster-randomized trial was conducted from April 29, 2013 to March 29, 2014. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: Ten community and hospital-based primary care practices. Participants were attending physicians and medical residents during 25,620 study-eligible visits. INTERVENTION: Physicians in all practices received a brief introduction to the CDC testing recommendations. At visits for eligible patients at intervention sites, physicians received a BPA through the EHR to order HCV testing or medical assistants were prompted to post a testing order for the physician. Physicians in control sites did not receive the BPA. MAIN OUTCOMES: HCV testing; the incidence of HCV antibody positive tests was a secondary outcome. RESULTS: Testing rates were greater among Birth Cohort patients in intervention sites (20.2% vs. 1.8%, P<0.0001) and the odds of testing were greater in intervention sites after controlling for imbalances of patient and visit characteristics between comparison groups [odds ratio (OR), 9.0; 95% confidence interval, 7.6-10.7). The adjusted OR of identifying HCV antibody positive patients was also greater in intervention sites (OR, 2.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.3-11.2). CONCLUSIONS: An EHR-embedded BPA markedly increased HCV testing among Birth Cohort patients, but the majority of eligible patients did not receive testing indicating a need for more effective methods to promote uptake.

Implementation of Birth-Cohort Testing for Hepatitis C Virus.

Hepatitis C virus infection affects approximately 2.2 to 3.2 million Americans. In 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended a one-time antibody test of all persons belonging to the 1945-1965 birth cohort. Efforts to implement this recommendation in clinical settings are in their infancy; this case study report therefore seeks to share the experiences of three sites that implemented interventions to increase birth-cohort testing through participation in the Birth-cohort Evaluation to Advance Screening and Testing for Hepatitis C. At each site, project managers completed standardized questionnaires about their implementation experiences, and a qualitative analysis was conducted of the responses. The testing interventions used in-person recruitment, mail recruitment, and an electronic health record prompt. Sites reported that early efforts to obtain stakeholder buy-in were critical to effectively implement and sustain interventions and that the intervention required additional staffing resources beyond those being used for risk-based testing. In each case, administrative barriers were more extensive than anticipated. For the electronic health record-based intervention, technological support was critical in achieving study goals. Despite these barriers, interventions in all sites were successful in increasing rates of testing and case identification, although future studies will need to evaluate the relative costs and benefits of each intervention.

Hepatitis C virus antibody positivity and predictors among previously undiagnosed adult primary care outpatients: cross-sectional analysis of a multisite retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 1998 recommends HCV antibody (anti-HCV) testing for persons with specified risk factors. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and predictors of anti-HCV positivity among primary care outpatients and estimate the proportion of unidentified anti-HCV-positive (anti-HCV+) persons using risk-based testing. METHODS: We analyzed electronic medical record data from a 4-site retrospective study. Patients were aged ≥18 years, utilized ≥1 outpatient primary care service(s) between 2005 and 2010, and had no documented evidence of prior HCV diagnosis. Among persons tested for anti-HCV, we fit a multilevel logistic regression model to identify patient-level independent predictors of anti-HCV positivity. We estimated the proportion of unidentified anti-HCV+ persons by using multiple imputation to assign anti-HCV results to untested patients. RESULTS: We observed 209 076 patients for a median of 5 months (interquartile range, 1-23 months). Among 17 464 (8.4%) patients who were tested for anti-HCV, 6.4% (n=1115) were positive. We identified history of injection drug use (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval], 6.3 [5.2-7.6]), 1945-1965 birth cohort (4.4 [3.8-5.1]), and elevated alanine aminotransferase levels (4.8 [4.2-5.6]) as independently associated with anti-HCV positivity. We estimated that 81.5% (n=4890/6005) of anti-HCV+ patients were unidentified using risk-based testing. CONCLUSIONS: In these outpatient primary care settings, risk-based testing may have missed 4 of 5 newly enrolled patients who are anti-HCV+. Without knowing their status, unidentified anti-HCV+ persons cannot receive further clinical evaluation or antiviral treatment, and are unlikely to benefit from secondary prevention recommendations to limit disease progression and mortality.

Previous exposure to HCV among persons born during 1945-1965: prevalence and predictors, United States, 1999-2008.

OBJECTIVES: We examined HCV exposure prevalence and predictors among persons in the United States born during 1945-1965. METHODS: With data from the 1999-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, we calculated the proportion of persons born during 1945-1965 who tested positive for HCV antibody (anti-HCV) and analyzed the prevalence by sociodemographic and behavioral risk factors. RESULTS: Anti-HCV prevalence in the 1945-1965 birth cohort was 3.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.8%, 3.8%), substantially higher than among other adults (0.9%). Within the cohort, anti-HCV prevalence was higher among non-Hispanic Blacks (6.4%; 95% CI = 5.3%, 7.7%), persons with injection drug use histories (56.8%; 95% CI = 48.4%, 64.8%), and persons with elevated alanine aminotransferase levels (12.7%; 95% CI = 10.7%, 15.1%). Injection drug use (adjusted odds ratio = 98.4; 95% CI = 58.8, 164.5) was the strongest anti-HCV prevalence predictor. Among anti-HCV-positive persons, 57.8% reported having 2 or more alcoholic drinks daily. CONCLUSIONS: With the high prevalence of HCV among persons born during 1945-1965, the increasing morbidity and mortality associated with HCV, and reductions in liver cancer and HCV-related mortality when HCV is eradicated, it is critically important to identify persons with HCV and link them to appropriate care.

Eradication of hepatitis C virus infection and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta-analysis of observational studies.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a leading cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In the United States, this form of cancer occurs in approximately 15 000 persons annually. A systematic review of the evidence is needed to assess the benefits of treatment of HCV-infected persons on development of HCC. PURPOSE: To systematically review observational studies to determine the association between response to HCV therapy and development of HCC among persons at any stage of fibrosis and those with advanced liver disease. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and the Database of Abstracts of Reviews and Effectiveness from inception through February 2012. STUDY SELECTION: English-language observational studies that compared therapy-derived sustained virologic response (SVR) with no response to therapy among HCV-infected persons, targeted an adult population, and had an average follow-up of at least 2 years. DATA EXTRACTION: Two investigators independently extracted data into uniform relative risk measures. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation framework was used to determine the quality of the evidence. DATA SYNTHESIS: Thirty studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria, and 18 provided adjusted effect estimates that were used to calculate pooled relative risks. Among HCV-infected persons, SVR was associated with reduced risk for HCC (relative risk for all persons, 0.24 [95% CI, 0.18 to 0.31], moderate-quality evidence; advanced liver disease hazard ratio, 0.23 [CI, 0.16 to 0.35], moderate-quality evidence). LIMITATION: In the meta-analyses, some variables could not be controlled for because of the observational design of the included studies. CONCLUSION: Sustained virologic response after treatment among HCV-infected persons at any stage of fibrosis is associated with reduced HCC. The evidence was determined to be of moderate quality.

"To share or not to share?" Serosorting by hepatitis C status in the sharing of drug injection equipment among NHBS-IDU2 participants.

BACKGROUND: Persons who inject drugs (PWID) are at high risk for acquiring hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates there are 17 000 new infections per year, mainly among PWID. This study examines injection equipment serosorting-considering HCV serostatus when deciding whether and with whom to share injection equipment. OBJECTIVE: To examine whether injection equipment serosorting is occurring among PWID in selected cities. METHODS: Using data from the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System-Injection Drug Users (NHBS-IDU2, 2009), we developed multivariate logistic regression models to examine the extent to which participants' self-reported HCV status is associated with their injection equipment serosorting behavior and knowledge of last injecting partner's HCV status. RESULTS: Participants who knew their HCV status were more likely to know the HCV status of their last injecting partner, compared to those who did not know their status (HCV+: adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 4.1, 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.4-4.9; HCV-: aOR 2.5, 95% CI, 2.0-3.0). Participants who reported being HCV+, relative to those of unknown HCV status, were 5 times more likely to share injection equipment with a partner of HCV-positive status (aOR 4.8, 95% CI, 3.9-6.0). CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis suggests PWID are more likely to share injection equipment with persons of concordant HCV status.

State insurance mandates and racial and ethnic inequities in assisted reproductive technology utilization.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether the (1) scope of state-mandated insurance coverage for assisted reproductive technology (ART) and (2) proportion of the population eligible for this coverage are associated with reductions in racial/ethnic inequities in ART utilization. DESIGN: National cross-sectional, ecologic study. SUBJECTS: We employed estimates from the US Census Bureau of all women 20-44 years of age living in the US in 2018. Data on the number of women who initiated an ART cycle during that year that were reported to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were obtained from the National ART Surveillance System. EXPOSURE: State mandates were classified according to the scope of required coverage for fertility services: Comprehensive, Limited, and No Mandate. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Race and ethnic-specific ART utilization rates, defined as the number of women undergoing ≥1 ART cycles per 10,000 women, were the primary outcomes. As state mandates do not apply to all insurance plans, Comprehensive Mandate utilization rates were recalculated using denominators corrected for the estimated proportions of populations eligible for coverage. RESULTS: Across all mandate categories, Non-Hispanic (NH) Asian and NH White populations had the highest ART utilization rates, whereas the lowest rates were among Hispanic, NH Black, and NH Other/Multiple Races populations. Compared with the NH Asian reference group, the NH Black population had smaller inequities in the Comprehensive Mandate group than the No Mandate group (rate ratio [RR 0.33 [0.28-0.38] vs. RR 0.23 [0.22-0.24]). Using the Comprehensive Mandate group for each race/ethnicity as the reference, the NH Black and NH Other/Multiple Races populations showed the largest relative differences in utilization between the No Mandate and Comprehensive Mandate groups (RR 0.39 [0.37-0.41] and 0.33 [0.28-0.38], respectively). Within the Comprehensive Mandate group, the disparities in the Hispanic and NH Black populations moved toward the null after correcting for state-mandated insurance eligibility. CONCLUSIONS: Racial/ethnic inequities in ART utilization were reduced in states with comprehensive infertility coverage mandates. Inequities were further attenuated after correcting for mandate eligibility. Mandates alone, however, were not sufficient to eliminate disparities. These findings can inform future strategies aimed at improving ART access under a social justice framework.

Multiple Imputation of Missing Race/Ethnicity Information in the National Assisted Reproductive Technology Surveillance System.

Background: Missing race/ethnicity data are common in many surveillance systems and registries, which may limit complete and accurate assessments of racial and ethnic disparities. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Surveillance System (NASS) has a congressional mandate to collect data on all ART cycles performed by fertility clinics in the United States and provides valuable information on ART utilization and treatment outcomes. However, race/ethnicity data are missing for many ART cycles in NASS. Materials and Methods: We multiply imputed missing race/ethnicity data using variables from NASS and additional zip code-level race/ethnicity information in U.S. Census data. To evaluate imputed data quality, we generated training data by imposing missing values on known race/ethnicity under missing at random assumption, imputed, and examined the relationship between race/ethnicity and the rate of stillbirth per pregnancy. Results: The distribution of imputed race/ethnicity was comparable to the reported one with the largest difference of 0.53% for non-Hispanic Asian. Our imputation procedure was well calibrated and correctly identified that 89.91% (standard error = 0.18) of known race/ethnicity values on average in training data. Compared to complete-case analysis, using multiply imputed data reduced bias of parameter estimates (the range of bias for stillbirth per pregnancy across race/ethnicity groups is 0.02%-0.18% for imputed data analysis, versus 0.04%-0.66% for complete-case analysis) and yielded narrower confidence intervals. Conclusions: Our results underscore the importance of collecting complete race/ethnicity information for ART surveillance. However, when the missingness exists, multiply imputed race/ethnicity can improve the accuracy and precision of health outcomes estimated across racial/ethnic groups.

Recommendations for the identification of chronic hepatitis C virus infection among persons born during 1945-1965.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an increasing cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Many of the 2.7-3.9 million persons living with HCV infection are unaware they are infected and do not receive care (e.g., education, counseling, and medical monitoring) and treatment. CDC estimates that although persons born during 1945-1965 comprise an estimated 27% of the population, they account for approximately three fourths of all HCV infections in the United States, 73% of HCV-associated mortality, and are at greatest risk for hepatocellular carcinoma and other HCV-related liver disease. With the advent of new therapies that can halt disease progression and provide a virologic cure (i.e., sustained viral clearance following completion of treatment) in most persons, targeted testing and linkage to care for infected persons in this birth cohort is expected to reduce HCV-related morbidity and mortality. CDC is augmenting previous recommendations for HCV testing (CDC. Recommendations for prevention and control of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and HCV-related chronic disease. MMWR 1998;47[No. RR-19]) to recommend one-time testing without prior ascertainment of HCV risk for persons born during 1945-1965, a population with a disproportionately high prevalence of HCV infection and related disease. Persons identified as having HCV infection should receive a brief screening for alcohol use and intervention as clinically indicated, followed by referral to appropriate care for HCV infection and related conditions. These recommendations do not replace previous guidelines for HCV testing that are based on known risk factors and clinical indications. Rather, they define an additional target population for testing: persons born during 1945-1965. CDC developed these recommendations with the assistance of a work group representing diverse expertise and perspectives. The recommendations are informed by the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) framework, an approach that provides guidance and tools to define the research questions, conduct the systematic review, assess the overall quality of the evidence, and determine strength of the recommendations. This report is intended to serve as a resource for health-care professionals, public health officials, and organizations involved in the development, implementation, and evaluation of prevention and clinical services. These recommendations will be reviewed every 5 years and updated to include advances in the published evidence.

Factors associated with large-for-gestational-age infants born after frozen embryo transfer cycles.

Objective: To examine trends of frozen embryo transfer (FET) proportions and large-for-gestational-age (LGA) incidence and determine risk factors for LGA infants after FET. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Not applicable. Patients: Frozen embryo transfer cycles. Interventions: None. Main Outcome Measures: Singleton LGA infant. Results: The percentage of FETs increased from 20%-74% of transfers, whereas the rate of LGA among FET singleton births decreased from 18%-12% during 2004-2018. In a subanalysis of 127,525 FET-associated singleton live births during 2016-2018, patient factors associated with LGA were higher-than-normal maternal body mass index (body mass index [BMI], 25.0-29.9 kg/m2; adjusted relative risk [aRR], 1.31; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.26-1.36; BMI, 30.0-34.9 kg/m2; aRR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.41-1.55; and BMI, >35 Kg/m2; aRR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.59-1.77) and ≥1 prior birth vs. none. Low maternal BMI (<18.5 vs. 18.5-24.9 kg/m2) and cycles involving patients who were non-Hispanic (NH) Asian/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, NH Black, or Hispanic (compared with NH White) were at lower risk of LGA infants. Cycle factors associated with LGA included gestational carrier use (aRR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.16-1.34) and donor sperm (aRR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.10-1.25). Conclusions: Although the number and proportion of FET cycles increased from 2004-2018, the rate of LGA after FET decreased. Maternal BMI, parity, and race/ethnicity were the strongest risk factors for LGA infants after FET.

Hepatitis C care cascade among persons born 1945-1965: 3 medical centers.

OBJECTIVES: Effective screening, diagnosis, and treatment are needed to reduce chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection-associated morbidity and mortality. In order to successfully increase HCV treatment, it is necessary to identify and understand gaps in linkage of antibody-positive patients with newly identified HCV to subsequent HCV RNA testing, clinical evaluation, and treatment. STUDY DESIGN: To estimate attainment of HCV care cascade steps among antibody-positive patients with newly identified HCV, we conducted chart reviews of patients with a new positive HCV antibody test at 3 academic medical centers participating in the Birth-Cohort Evaluation to Advance Screening and Testing of Hepatitis C (BEST-C) study. METHODS: We tracked receipt of RNA testing, clinical evaluation, treatment initiation, and treatment completion among individuals born between 1945 and 1965 who were newly diagnosed as HCV antibody-positive between December 2012 and October 2015 at 3 BEST-C centers, predominantly from the participating medical centers' primary care practices and emergency departments. RESULTS: Of the 130 HCV-seropositive individuals identified, 118 (91%) had an RNA or genotype test, 75 (58%) were RNA-positive, 73 (56%) were linked to care, 22 (17% overall; 29% among RNA-positive) started treatment, and 21 (16%; 28% among RNA-positive) completed treatment. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis showed that although linkage to care was largely successful in the target birth cohort, the largest gap in the HCV care cascade was seen in initiating treatment. Greater emphasis on linking patients to clinical evaluation and treatment is necessary in order to achieve the public health benefits promised by birth-cohort testing.

HIV Infection Status as a Predictor of Hepatitis C Virus RNA Testing in Primary Care.

INTRODUCTION: Receipt of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA testing following a positive HCV antibody (anti-HCV+) test result to establish current infection is a quality indicator for HCV-related care. This study examines HIV infection status as a predictor of HCV RNA test receipt after an anti-HCV+ result in the primary care setting. METHODS: Electronic medical records of anti-HCV+ patients from a multisite retrospective study of patients aged ≥18 years who utilized one or more primary care outpatient services during 2005-2010 were analyzed in 2014. A multivariable logistic regression model examined the independent relationships between patient characteristics and receipt of HCV RNA testing. RESULTS: Among 1,115 anti-HCV+ patients, 133 (11.9%) were also HIV-positive. Of these, 77.4% (n=103) underwent HCV RNA testing to determine current infection status. By contrast, 66.7% (n=654/980) of anti-HCV+ patients who were HIV-negative received HCV RNA testing. Following multivariable adjustment, the odds of receiving HCV RNA testing were higher among anti-HCV+ patients who were also HIV-positive (AOR=1.9, 95% CI=1.2, 3.0), compared with their HIV-negative counterparts. Elevated alanine aminotransferase level was also associated with receipt of HCV RNA testing (AOR=1.9, 95% CI=1.4, 2.4). Black race was associated with decreased odds of receiving HCV RNA testing (AOR=0.7, 95% CI=0.5, 1.0). CONCLUSIONS: HIV infection status is independently associated with the likelihood of receiving HCV RNA testing following an anti-HCV+ result. One quarter of anti-HCV+ patients who were also HIV-positive and one third of their HIV-negative counterparts, respectively, did not receive testing to establish active HCV infection, which is imperative for appropriate care and treatment.

Comparison of hepatitis C virus testing strategies: birth cohort versus elevated alanine aminotransferase levels.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is unidentified in an estimated 40%-85% of infected adults. Surveillance and modeling data have found significant increases in HCV-associated morbidity and mortality. PURPOSE: To compare two HCV antibody (anti-HCV) testing strategies based on (1) elevated alanine aminotransferase levels (ALT) and (2) a birth cohort approach for people born during 1945-1965. METHODS: Data from 19,055 adults aged 20-70 years who completed the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 1999-2008 were analyzed in 2013. Two independent models were evaluated, based on membership in the 1945-1965 birth cohort or elevated ALT, to compare the number of identified anti-HCV-positive (anti-HCV+) individuals; proportion of total identified cases; and the number of people that would be tested using either strategy. RESULTS: The prevalence of anti-HCV among adults aged 20-70 years was estimated at 2.0% (95% CI=1.8%, 2.3%), representing about 3.6 million people. The birth cohort strategy would result in testing about 85.4 million people and identifying nearly 2.8 million anti-HCV+ people with a sensitivity of 76.6%. The ALT strategy would test about 21.5 million adults and identify approximately 1.8 million anti-HCV+ people with a sensitivity of 50.0%. Implementing both strategies concurrently would identify 87.3% of anti-HCV+ adults. CONCLUSIONS: The birth cohort strategy, which is recommended by both the CDC and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, would identify 1 million more anti-HCV+ people than the elevated ALT approach. Concurrent implementation would identify an even larger number of individuals ever infected.