Loss to follow-up in the hepatitis C care cascade: A substantial problem but opportunity for micro-elimination
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Publication date
2020-12
Authors
van Dijk, Marleen
Drenth, Joost P.H.
Arends, Joop E.
Brakenhoff, Sylvia M.
Isfordink, C J
de Knegt, Rob
van der Valk, Marc
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Document Type
Article
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Abstract
Since the advent of direct-acting antivirals, elimination of hepatitis C viral (HCV) infections seems within reach. However, studies on the HCV cascade of care show suboptimal progression through each step for all patient groups. Loss to follow-up (LTFU) is a major issue and is a barrier to HCV elimination. This review summarizes the scale of the LTFU problem and proposes a micro-elimination approach. Retrieving LTFU patients and re-engaging them with care again has shown to be feasible in the Netherlands. Micro-elimination through retrieval can contribute to reaching the World Health Organization's viral hepatitis elimination targets by 2030.
Keywords
cascade of care, hepatitis C, lost to follow-up, micro-elimination, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases, Virology
Citation
van Dijk, M, Drenth, J P H, Arends, J E, Brakenhoff, S M, Isfordink, C J, de Knegt, R & van der Valk, M 2020, 'Loss to follow-up in the hepatitis C care cascade : A substantial problem but opportunity for micro-elimination', Journal of Viral Hepatitis, vol. 27, no. 12, pp. 1270-1283. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvh.13399