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Disparities in HBV surveillance highlight need for outreach programs
CDC. MMWR. 2012;61:6-9.
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New York City hepatitis B surveillance data suggest the need for patient outreach and clinician education programs, as 67% of patients with hepatitis B virus were of the Asian population and 70% of physicians were unaware of patient risk factors.
From June 2008 to November 2009, officials from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene conducted enhanced surveillance to characterize patients with chronic HBV. The findings were published in a recent Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
The cohort included a random sample of newly reported HBV cases and detailed information from patients’ physicians. Of 180 HBV cases, 67% of patients were Asian and 61% were male.
The most common reason for clinician reported HBV testing was the patient’s birth country/race/ethnicity (27%). Only 2% were tested because of signs and symptoms of HBV and 12% due to elevated liver enzymes.
Although 69% of physicians reported counseling their patients to notify close contacts about their infection and 75% reported counseling about transmission and prevention, 62% did not know their patient’s hepatitis A vaccination status and 70% did not know of any patient risk factors.
In an accompanying editorial, CDC officials wrote that: “These findings validate the need for continued efforts to educate clinicians and patients in Asian-American communities about HBV screening recommendations. … Health departments can use these findings to develop educational materials for clinicians on HBV screening guidelines, vaccination recommendations and counseling. These data also can guide efforts to prevent HBV transmission and prevent disease progression in persons living with chronic HBV infection.”
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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