Results of Base-Case Analysis: Compared with the status quo,
birth-cohort screening identified 808 580 additional cases of chronic
HCV infection at a screening cost of $2874 per case identified.
Assuming that birth-cohort screening was followed by pegylated
interferon and ribavirin (PEG-IFNR) for treated patients, screening
increased QALYs by 348 800 and costs by $5.5 billion, for an ICER
of $15 700 per QALY gained. Assuming that birth-cohort screening
was followed by direct-acting antiviral plus PEG-IFNR treatment
for treated patients, screening increased QALYs by 532 200 and
costs by $19.0 billion, for an ICER of $35 700 per QALY saved.
Results of Sensitivity Analysis: The ICER of birth-cohort screening
was most sensitive to sustained viral response of antiviral therapy,
the cost of therapy, the discount rate, and the QALY losses assigned
to disease states.
Limitation: Empirical data on screening and direct-acting antiviral
treatment in real-world clinical settings are scarce.
Conclusion: Birth-cohort screening for HCV in primary care settings
was cost-effective.
Primary Funding Source: Division of Viral Hepatitis, Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention.