Association Between Time to First RNA-Negative Test Result Among People With Hepatitis C Virus Infection and Homelessness or Testing at a Correctional or Substance Use Treatment Facility, New York City.
Public Health Rep
; 137(6): 1126-1135, 2022.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34694921
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
Curative treatments for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are available, but access and barriers to treatment can delay initiation. We investigated the time to first negative RNA test result among people with HCV infection and examined differences by homeless status and whether people were tested at a correctional facility or substance use treatment facility.METHODS:
We used surveillance data to identify New York City residents first reported with HCV infection during January 1, 2015-December 31, 2018, with ≥1 positive RNA test result during January 1, 2015-November 1, 2019. We used Kaplan-Meier survival analysis to determine the time from the first positive RNA test result to the first negative RNA test result, with right-censoring at date of death or November 1, 2019. We determined substance use treatment, incarceration, or homelessness by ordering facility name and address or from patient residential address.RESULTS:
Of 13 952 people with an HCV RNA-positive test result first reported during 2015-2018, 6947 (49.8%) subsequently received an RNA-negative test result. Overall, 25% received an RNA-negative test result within 208 (95% CI, 200-216) days and 50% within 902 (95% CI, 841-966) days. Homelessness, incarceration, or substance use treatment was indicated for 4304 (30.9%) people, among whom 25% received an RNA-negative test result within 469 (95% CI, 427-520) days and <50% received an RNA-negative test result during the study period.CONCLUSIONS:
Efforts to connect people to treatment should occur soon after diagnosis, especially for people who could benefit from hepatitis C care coordination.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Ill-Housed Persons
/
Substance Abuse, Intravenous
/
Hepatitis C
/
Substance-Related Disorders
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Aspects:
Determinantes_sociais_saude
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
America do norte
Language:
En
Journal:
Public Health Rep
Year:
2022
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Estados Unidos