Objective: Patients with diabetes exhibit a higher incidence of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, making them a crucial population for targeted HCV screening and micro-elimination. In light of the first published interdisciplinary consensus on managing/screening HCV in diabetic patients, this study aims to evaluate the results and identify effective strategies for incorporating HCV screening and treatment into an existing diabetes care model managed by case managers.
Methods: This is a multicenter prospective program initiated by a diabetes society. Eighteen centers in Taiwan developed strategies to enhance HCV screening and streamline linkage to HCV care in diabetic patients. The performance of each center was assessed based on the number of patients screened and treated with direct-acting antivirals (DAA), HCV micro-elimination achievement, and strategies novelty. The strategies of the top five centers were compared with others to identify key drivers for enhanced HCV screening and care.
Results: Over a median time of 6.1 months, 28,436 patients were screened, and 1,379 (5%) were anti-HCV positive. A total of 333 (22%) patients were positive for HCV RNA, among whom 288 (86%) received DAA. Overall, 27 strategies were adopted, with the following being the most effective: multidisciplinary alignment meetings, incorporating HCV screening into the hospital’s key performance index, nondiabetes/gastroenterology physician participation, physician-assisted screening, automated HCV test slip printing, an alert system for positive anti-HCV result, and fast track to specialist appointments.
Conclusions: This program pioneered the evaluation of the integration of HCV screening and treatment in diabetic patients, providing strategic insights into HCV micro-elimination through efficient patient identification and collaborative HCV management.
H. Ou: Speaker's Bureau; Abbott, AstraZeneca, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Sanofi, Eli Lilly and Company, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. C. Liu: None. C. Wang: None.
