Hepatitis C Virus Testing of U.S. Youths

摘要

Incidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is rising in the U.S., especially among adolescents and young adults, including those who inject drugs. To examine HCV testing of U.S. youths, investigators conducted a retrospective study involving 269,124 individuals (aged 13 to 21 years) who, between 2012 and 2017, visited one of 57 federally qualified health centers that provide care to under-served communities. The researchers reviewed patient characteristics, including demographic data, substance-use diagnoses (using ICD-9/10 codes), medication lists, and lab test results. Use of illicit drugs (opioids, amphetamine, or cocaine) was considered a proxy for HCV risk.