Hannah M Cranford, Daniel Parras, Patricia D Jones, Edelise Endemano, Katherine Chung-Bridges, Paulo S Pinheiro
{"title":"Chronic Viral Hepatitis Screening Inequities Across Florida Federally Qualified Health Centers.","authors":"Hannah M Cranford, Daniel Parras, Patricia D Jones, Edelise Endemano, Katherine Chung-Bridges, Paulo S Pinheiro","doi":"10.1007/s40615-025-02363-3","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>Examine racial and ethnic inequities in hepatitis C and B virus (HCV and HBV) screening across high-risk populations.</p><p><strong>Subject and methods: </strong>Chronic HCV and HBV infections can lead to cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and death. Despite universal screening recommendations, < 50% of US adults are tested for these viruses. Populations with lower socio-economic status experience higher rates of viral-related cirrhosis and HCC, which may be reduced through screening and treatment. This study analyzed data from 91,875 patients (2019-2021) at the Health Choice Network, a federally qualified health center in Florida. Logistic regression assessed the determinants of HCV and HBV screening, considering factors such as age, sex, language, and race/ethnicity.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The study population was predominantly female, Hispanic, uninsured, and living below the federal poverty line. Overall, 61.7% had HCV screening, and 43.7% had HBV screening. Haitian Creole-speaking patients (aOR 1.67; 95% CI, 1.50-1.85), Asian (aOR 1.41; 95% CI, 1.26-1.58), Spanish-speaking Hispanic (aOR 1.38; 95% CI, 1.32-1.44), and English-speaking Hispanic patients (aOR 1.12; 95% CI, 1.07-1.18) had higher odds of HCV screening, compared to NH-Whites. Similarly, Haitian Creole-speaking (aOR 1.91; 95% CI, 1.73-2.12), Asian (aOR 1.50; 95% CI, 1.33-1.68), and Spanish-speaking Hispanic patients (aOR 1.23; 95% CI, 1.17-1.29) had higher odds of HBV screening.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>For an underserved population context, screening rates were above average, with higher prevalence among historically disadvantaged populations. However, rates remained suboptimal, particularly among NH-Whites, who account for the largest number of HCV-related liver cancers, often linked to injection drug use. Increasing screening, especially among NH-Whites and English-speaking Hispanics for HCV, is crucial for early diagnosis, treatment, and reducing severe liver disease risk, including cirrhosis and HCC.</p>","PeriodicalId":16921,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-025-02363-3","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Aim: Examine racial and ethnic inequities in hepatitis C and B virus (HCV and HBV) screening across high-risk populations.
Subject and methods: Chronic HCV and HBV infections can lead to cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and death. Despite universal screening recommendations, < 50% of US adults are tested for these viruses. Populations with lower socio-economic status experience higher rates of viral-related cirrhosis and HCC, which may be reduced through screening and treatment. This study analyzed data from 91,875 patients (2019-2021) at the Health Choice Network, a federally qualified health center in Florida. Logistic regression assessed the determinants of HCV and HBV screening, considering factors such as age, sex, language, and race/ethnicity.
Results: The study population was predominantly female, Hispanic, uninsured, and living below the federal poverty line. Overall, 61.7% had HCV screening, and 43.7% had HBV screening. Haitian Creole-speaking patients (aOR 1.67; 95% CI, 1.50-1.85), Asian (aOR 1.41; 95% CI, 1.26-1.58), Spanish-speaking Hispanic (aOR 1.38; 95% CI, 1.32-1.44), and English-speaking Hispanic patients (aOR 1.12; 95% CI, 1.07-1.18) had higher odds of HCV screening, compared to NH-Whites. Similarly, Haitian Creole-speaking (aOR 1.91; 95% CI, 1.73-2.12), Asian (aOR 1.50; 95% CI, 1.33-1.68), and Spanish-speaking Hispanic patients (aOR 1.23; 95% CI, 1.17-1.29) had higher odds of HBV screening.
Conclusion: For an underserved population context, screening rates were above average, with higher prevalence among historically disadvantaged populations. However, rates remained suboptimal, particularly among NH-Whites, who account for the largest number of HCV-related liver cancers, often linked to injection drug use. Increasing screening, especially among NH-Whites and English-speaking Hispanics for HCV, is crucial for early diagnosis, treatment, and reducing severe liver disease risk, including cirrhosis and HCC.
期刊介绍:
Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities reports on the scholarly progress of work to understand, address, and ultimately eliminate health disparities based on race and ethnicity. Efforts to explore underlying causes of health disparities and to describe interventions that have been undertaken to address racial and ethnic health disparities are featured. Promising studies that are ongoing or studies that have longer term data are welcome, as are studies that serve as lessons for best practices in eliminating health disparities. Original research, systematic reviews, and commentaries presenting the state-of-the-art thinking on problems centered on health disparities will be considered for publication. We particularly encourage review articles that generate innovative and testable ideas, and constructive discussions and/or critiques of health disparities.Because the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities receives a large number of submissions, about 30% of submissions to the Journal are sent out for full peer review.