Fig 1.
HC, hepatitis C; HCV, hepatitis C virus; RNA +, ribonucleic acid positive; RNA -, ribonucleic acid negative. Decision tree showing the decision of whether or not to screen. Target populations were tested only once at the beginning of the analysis. The population eligible for screening was estimated after excluding the population already diagnosed with HCV infection. All screened patients were assumed to undergo antibody testing by ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), following by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in those testing antibody-positive to confirm the diagnosis of the disease. In patients testing positive on ELISA but negative on PCR, it was assumed that the infection had resolved or spontaneously cleared. Only chronic hepatitis C patients were entered in the Markov model and progressed in the disease until death.
Fig 2.
Screening flow chart showing the derivation of the number of individuals screened, HCV-diagnosed, eligible for treatment, and achieving SVR in the general population, the highest anti-HCV prevalence population plus high-risk groups, and high-risk-groups.
Table 1.
Values of the parameters in the model.
Table 2.
Target population results and cost-utility results per patient (discounted).
Fig 3.
Annual impact on the number of clinical events with each population.
HCV, hepatitis C virus; HR, High Risk. a. HCV related decompensated cirrhosis, b. HCV related hepatocellular carcinoma, c. HCV related liver transplants, d. HCV related death.
Table 3.
Number of liver-related complications avoided (discounted).
Fig 4.
Scenario 1 (general population vs high-risk groups) and Scenario 2 (general population vs population with the highest anti-HCV prevalence plus high-risk groups), using a tornado diagram. ICUR for the upper and lower limits of each parameter examined are shown on the horizontal axis of the diagram.