A territory-wide opportunistic, hospital-based HCV screening in the general population from northern Italy: The 1969-1989 birth-cohort

Background and Aim: The World Health Organization (WHO) goal of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) elimination by 2030 rose awareness about the need of screening plans, worldwide. In Italy, graduated screening starting from people born in 1969–1989 might be the most-effective strategy. We performed an opportunistic HCV screening study in the general population attending health facilities in Lombardy region, Northern Italy. Methods: This is a prospective, multicenter, territory-wide, opportunistic study supported by the Regional Government of Lombardy, Italy. Between June 2022 and December 2022, all subjects born in 1969–1989, hospitalized or accessing blood collection centres were offered anti-HCV and HCV–RNA tests. Patients with known anti-HCV positivity and/or previous anti-HCV treatment were excluded. Demographic features were uploaded into a regional web-based platform. Results: In total, 120 193 individuals were screened in 75 centres. Mean age was 44 (±6) years, 65.2% were females, 83.7% were tested at blood collection centres. Anti-HCV tested positive in 604 (0.50%) subjects: mean age 47 (±5), 51.1% females. HCV seroprevalence was higher in males (p < 0.00001), elderly (p < 0.00001) and in- vs. outpatients (p = 0.0009). HCV–RNA was detectable in 125 out of 441 (28.3%) anti-HCV positive subjects. Actively infected patients were 46 (±6) years old, mainly males (56.8%). The overall prevalence of active HCV infection was 0.10%, higher in elderly (p = 0.0003) and in in-patients (p = 0.0007). Among 93 HCV–RNA positive patients, the median age was 48 years, 58% males, 62% Italian born, median HCV–RNA levels were 6,1 log IU/mL, liver stiffness measurement (LSM) values 5.5 (3.1–29.9) kPa and ALT levels 48 U/L. Conclusions: The prevalence of active HCV infection in the 1969–1989 population attending health facilities in Lombardy was low. Most viremic patients were Italian-born, with mild liver disease but high-HCV–RNA levels. Due to the higher prevalence in the elderly, the extension of such opportunistic screening programs to lower birth cohorts would be warranted.