Epidemiology of hepatitis c virus in pennsylvania state prisons, 2004-2012: Limitations of 1945-1965 birth cohort screening in correctional settings

S. Larney, M.K. Mahowald, N. Scharff, T.P. Flanigan, C.G. Beckwith and N.D. Zaller

American Journal of Public Health, 2014, vol. 104, issue 6, e69-e74

Abstract: Objectives. We described hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV) prevalence in a state prison system and retrospectively evaluated the case-finding performance of targeted testing of the 1945 to 1965 birth cohort in this population. Methods. We used observational data from universal testing of Pennsylvania state prison entrants (June 2004-December 2012) to determine anti-HCV prevalence by birth cohort. We compared anti-HCV prevalence and the burden of anti-HCV in the 1945 to 1965 birth cohort with that in all other birth years. Results. Anti-HCV prevalence among 101 727 adults entering prison was 18.1%. Prevalence was highest among those born from 1945 to 1965, but most anti-HCV cases were in people born after 1965. Targeted testing of the 1945 to 1965 birth cohort would have identified a decreasing proportion of cases with time. Conclusions. HCV is endemic in correctional populations. Targeted testing of the 1945 to 1965 birth cohort would produce a high yield of positive test results but would identify only a minority of cases. We recommend universal anti-HCV screening in correctional settings to allow for maximum case identification, secondary prevention, and treatment of affected prisoners.

Keywords: adolescent; adult; age; aged; article; cohort analysis; female; hepatitis C; Hepatitis C virus; human; male; middle aged; prevalence; prison; prisoner; sex difference; statistics; United States; very elderly; young adult, Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cohort Studies; Female; Hepacivirus; Hepatitis C; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pennsylvania; Prevalence; Prisoners; Prisons; Sex Factors; Young Adult (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2014.301943_4

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2014.301943

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