Liver International
Volume 34, Issue 2, 2014, Pages 253-258

Hepatitis C screening beyond CDC guidelines in an Egyptian immigrant community (Article)

Perumalswami P.V.* , Miller F.D. , Orabee H. , Regab A. , Adams M. , Kapelusznik L. , Aljibawi F. , Pagano W. , Tong V. , Dieterich D.T.
  • a Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
  • b John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Oahu, HI, United States
  • c Harbor Light Community Health, New York, NY, United States
  • d Harbor Light Community Health, New York, NY, United States
  • e Harbor Light Community Health, New York, NY, United States
  • f Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
  • g Lutheran Family Health Center, Brooklyn, NY, United States
  • h Lutheran Family Health Center, Brooklyn, NY, United States
  • i Lutheran Family Health Center, Brooklyn, NY, United States
  • j Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States

Abstract

Background & Aims: Many Egyptian-born persons in the U.S. are at high risk of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, yet are not aware of their infection and lack healthcare coverage or linkage to care. In this study, we target Egyptian-born persons living in the New York City area for screening and link to care. Methods: A unique partnership, the Hepatitis Outreach Network (HONE), combines the expertise and resources of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and community-based organizations, to provide education, screening and link to care in communities with high prevalence of chronic viral hepatitis. Results: Through four community-based screening events, 192 Egyptian-born persons were screened for HCV. Thirty (15.6%) persons were HCV positive. HCV antibody prevalence in those, whose national origin was Egypt, increased strongly with age and was associated with increasing number of years resident in Egypt and rural residents. Of the 30 Egyptian persons with HCV infection, 18 (60%) received a medical evaluation (2 with local providers and 16 at Mount Sinai). Of the HCV-infected persons evaluated, treatment was recommended in four and begun in three (75%). Conclusion: Egyptian-born persons living in the New York City area have a high burden of HCV disease. HONE has successfully established targeted HCV screening in Egyptian-born persons through use of several unique elements that effectively link them to care. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Author Keywords

Screening Hepatitis C Link to care Egypt

Index Keywords

education medical assessment immigrant mass screening Community Health Services antibody titer human community middle aged rural population Logistic Models screening United States Humans male female prevalence Article major clinical study adult New York City link to care Community-Institutional Relations practice guideline Egypt hepatitis C
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84891824897&doi=10.1111%2fliv.12259&partnerID=40&md5=2c5b405146294fa447f0bbab41e75c76
DOI: 10.1111/liv.12259
ISSN: 14783223
Cited by: 8
Original Language: English