ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT- Population level outcomes and cost-effectiveness of expanding the recommendation for age-based hepatitis C testing in the United States

Joshua A Barocas, MD Abriana Tasillo Golnaz Eftekhari Yazdi, MSc Jianing Wang, MScClaudia Vellozzi, MD, MPH Susan Hariri, PhD Cheryl Isenhour, DVM, MPH Liisa Randall, PhDJohn W Ward, MD Jonathan Mermin, MD, MPH ... 
Clinical Infectious Diseases, ciy098, https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciy098
Published:
 06 February 2018

AbstractBackgroundThe U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommend one-time hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing for persons born 1945-1965 and targeted testing for high-risk persons. This strategy targets HCV testing to a prevalent population at high risk for HCV morbidity and mortality, but does not include younger populations with high incidence. To address this gap and improve access to HCV testing, age-based strategies should be considered.

MethodsWe used a simulation of HCV to estimate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of HCV testing strategies: 1) standard of care (SOC) – recommendation for one-time testing for all persons born 1945-1965, 2) recommendation for one-time testing for adults ≥40 years (≥40 strategy), 3) ≥30 years (≥30 strategy), and 4) ≥18 years (≥18 strategy). All strategies assumed targeted testing of high-risk persons. Inputs were derived from national databases, observational cohorts and clinical trials. Outcomes included quality-adjusted life expectancy, costs, and cost-effectiveness.

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​https://academic.oup.com/cid/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/cid/ciy098/4840186?redirectedFrom=fulltext