Hepatitis C Screening Rate Among Underserved Adults With Serious Mental Illness Receiving Care in California Community Mental Health Centers |
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Authors: | Evan Trager Mandana Khalili Carmen L Masson Eric Vittinghoff Jennifer Creasman Christina Mangurian |
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Institution: | At the time of the study, Evan Trager was with the School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco. Mandana Khalili is with the Department of Medicine, Carmen L. Masson and Christina Mangurian are with the Department of Psychiatry, Eric Vittinghoff is with the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and Jennifer Creasman is with the Clinical & Translational Science Institute, University of California, San Francisco. |
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Abstract: | Although HCV is more prevalent among people with severe mental illness (SMI; e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder) than in the general population (17% vs 1%), no large previous studies have examined HCV screening in this population. In this cross-sectional study, we examined administrative data for 57 170 California Medicaid enrollees with SMI to identify prevalence and predictors of HCV screening from October 2010 through September 2011. Only 4.7% (2674 of 57 170) received HCV screening, with strongest predictors being nonpsychiatric health care utilization and comorbid substance abuse.People with severe mental illness (SMI; e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder) die 25 years earlier than the general population.1 Although cardiovascular disease represents the primary cause of mortality,1 blood-borne infectious diseases are another contributor.2 HCV is the most prevalent blood-borne infection in the United States; by the best available estimates, more than 17% of people with SMI have HCV, compared with only 1% of the general US population.2 Although prevention, early detection, and treatment are crucial interventions for high-risk populations, most people with SMI do not receive these services.3 To our knowledge, no previous large studies have examined HCV testing among this high-risk population served in the public mental health system.4 |
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