Presentation (CTI)

OBJECTIVES: HCV screening rates among the general US population are low despite updated USPSTF and CDC recommendations. We sought to describe adults screened for HCV between 2020-2024 by clinical characteristics and report HCV positivity rates using US real-world data.
METHODS: This retrospective cohort study identified patients (18+ as of 2020), and born after 1965, with evidence of ≥1 preventative healthcare visit in their EHR/claims data between 03/02/2020-12/312024 in the Veradigm Network EHR linked to Komodo Health claims. Demographics are reported at or prior to the earliest visit date while clinical characteristics were evaluated at any time during the study period. HCV positivity rates are presented overall and by year.
RESULTS: Of the 35,975,646 patients who met all study criteria, 1,850,836 (5.1%) had evidence of HCV screening. Most of the HCV screened cohort was 18-44 years old (74%), female (69%), and White (49%). The birth cohort distribution was 32%, 51%, and 17% for Gen X (1966-1979), Millennials (1980-1996), and Gen Z (1997-2012), respectively. Drug use and alcohol use were noted in 11% and 7% of the cohort. Depression was observed in 32% of patients, followed by anemia (21%), and diabetes (15%). Overall, the HCV positivity rate saw a modest increase from 2020-2023 (2.7% to 3.0%) with a drop in 2024 (1.5%), possibly due to data lag issues. Millennials had a similar overall positivity rate (2.9%) to Gen X (2.8%), while Gen Z was markedly lower (0.9%).
CONCLUSIONS: Our study of over 35 million patients found a low HCV screening rate during 2020-2024 among the general US adult population. Those screened tended to be younger than 45 and primarily female. Depression, diabetes, and anemia were common comorbidities and HCV positivity rates saw a minor increase from 2020-2023, particularly among Millennials (2.7% to 3.6%) confirming literature suggesting an increasing prevalence of HCV among this age cohort.