Several initiatives aimed at HCV case finding have been launched worldwide to recruit untreated actively infected patients to achieve the 2030 goal of hepatitis C elimination according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. In Italy, high-risk populations of any age and younger individuals in the general population (those who were born between 1989 and 1969) are currently eligible for free-of-charge HCV testing, since a graduated screening, that is starting with younger people and subsequently extending to older age groups, resulted the most cost‐effective strategy [1]. However, it is known that the prevalence of infection in the general population increases with age [2–5]. The older patient population is also among the reasons why hospital-based HCV screening, which is currently encouraged in Italy, is considered promising. This activity has already yielded positive results in different areas of our region (Campania, Southern Italy) [6], which is known for its high infection prevalence.
Efforts to eliminate HCV in Italy must not forget the most underserved communities: insights from a screening project in Salerno (southern Italy)
Torre P.;Piccirillo L.;Masarone M.;Persico M.
2026
Abstract
Several initiatives aimed at HCV case finding have been launched worldwide to recruit untreated actively infected patients to achieve the 2030 goal of hepatitis C elimination according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. In Italy, high-risk populations of any age and younger individuals in the general population (those who were born between 1989 and 1969) are currently eligible for free-of-charge HCV testing, since a graduated screening, that is starting with younger people and subsequently extending to older age groups, resulted the most cost‐effective strategy [1]. However, it is known that the prevalence of infection in the general population increases with age [2–5]. The older patient population is also among the reasons why hospital-based HCV screening, which is currently encouraged in Italy, is considered promising. This activity has already yielded positive results in different areas of our region (Campania, Southern Italy) [6], which is known for its high infection prevalence.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
