Gastroenterologists Have Suboptimal Hepatitis B Virus Screening Rates in Patients Receiving Immunosuppressive Therapy

Adult Graft Rejection Male 0301 basic medicine Hepatitis B virus Asian Gastroenterologists Age Factors Antineoplastic Agents Hispanic or Latino Inflammatory Bowel Diseases 3. Good health Black or African American Cohort Studies 03 medical and health sciences Hepatitis B, Chronic Ethnicity Humans Female Guideline Adherence Immunosuppressive Agents Aged Dermatologists
DOI: 10.1007/s10620-016-4118-1 Publication Date: 2016-03-18T21:24:07Z
ABSTRACT
Hepatitis B reactivation in patients undergoing immunosuppressive therapy can lead to liver failure and death. Prior studies have shown suboptimal hepatitis B screening rates, but few have compared screening rates across specialties or factors associated with screening.A retrospective study was performed using a hospital-based chemotherapy database and outpatient pharmacy records from January 1999 to December 2013. HBV screening rates prior to initiation of immunosuppression were determined. Multivariate analysis was used to determine predictors of HBV screening.Of the 4008 study patients, 47 % were screened prior to receiving immunosuppressive therapy; only 48 % on rituximab and 45 % of those on anti-TNF therapy were screened. Transplant specialists screened most frequently (85 %) while gastroenterologists screened the least (34 %). Factors significantly associated with HBV screening were younger age, Asian race, use of anti-rejection therapy, and treatment by a transplant specialist (p < 0.001).HBV screening prior to immunosuppressive therapy is suboptimal, especially among gastroenterologists. Efforts to improve screening rates in at risk populations are needed.
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