Loss to follow‐up in the hepatitis C care cascade: A substantial problem but opportunity for micro‐elimination
Marleen van Dijk, Joost P.H. Drenth, the HepNed study group
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.
Topics & Concepts
CascadeMedicineVirologyIntensive care medicineInternal medicineChemistryChromatographyHepatitis C virus researchHepatitis B Virus StudiesLiver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment