[Follow-up diagnostics, referral and follow-up of hepatitis B and C patients].

OBJECTIVE

To study the extent to which follow-up diagnostics, referral to secondary care and follow-up are in accordance with the practice guideline of the Dutch College of General Practitioners 'Viral hepatitis and other liver disorders' after a hepatitis B (HBV) or C (HCV) infection has been diagnosed at the general practice.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

METHOD

Patient records were obtained from the Dutch 'Integrated primary care information' (IPCI) database which contains data from patients from general practices. Records of patients with a first-time positive HBsAg or anti-HCV test result in the period between 2008 and 2015 were manually validated and data on follow-up diagnostics, referral and follow-up were found.

RESULTS

A total of 117 patients tested positive for HBsAg and 101 patients tested positive for anti-HCV. Most HBV patients were subsequently tested for HBeAg (92%) and ALT (80%). Of the 41 HBV patients who were eligible for referral, 37 (90%) were actually referred to a specialist. 49 HCV patients (49%) were found negative after a confirmation or RNA test. 87% of the remaining 52 HCV patients were referred (n = 45). 21 (43%) of the 49 HBV patients who were not eligible for referral were tested for ALT after an average of 11.5 months. 14 (29%) of these patients subsequently received a second follow-up ALT test and 8 (16%) received a third.

CONCLUSION

Almost all HBV and HCV patients who are eligible for referral, are actually referred to a specialist. Most HBV patients received the correct follow-up diagnostics after a positive HbsAg test result. However, in few HBV patients who were not eligible for referral, was the ALT level checked every year for three years. The general practitioner, as well as the patient, should receive a reminder for this.