title: Acceptance, yield and feasibility of attaching HCV birth cohort screening to colorectal cancer screening in Spain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The US Centers for Disease Control recommends hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening for baby boomers. Spain presents a similar distribution of infected patients. We performed a cross sectional prospective study to evaluate the prevalence of undiagnosed HCV infection in subjects born between 1949 and 1974.
  
  
  METHODS
  All out-patients within the age range, both symptomatic and screening procedures, undergoing colonoscopy between December 2014 and June 2015 were offered a HCV antibody blood test and a survey including risk factors for HCV infection and attitude toward HCV screening. Patients with chronic HCV or with a previous negative HCV antibody test were excluded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 570 subjects, 50% screening procedures, were analyzed. The median age was 55.7, 94.6% were born in Spain and 54.6% were women. Antibodies against HCV were found in 1.6% (95% CI: 0.8-3%) and HCV-RNA in 0.4% (0.1-1.3%). We found no statistically significant differences regarding HCV prevalence, risk factors or socioeconomic characteristics between subjects undergoing colorectal cancer screening and symptomatic subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Symptomatic and screening subjects undergoing colonoscopy support HCV screening and present a similar HCV risk profile. Results suggest linking colorectal and HCV screening would yield good results.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Department, Fuenlabrada University Hospital, Fuenlabrada, Spain. Electronic address: fj.garcia.alonso@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Francisco Javier
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: García-Alonso
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Department, Fuenlabrada University Hospital, Fuenlabrada, Spain; Escuela Internacional de Doctorado, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bonillo-Cambrodón
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Department, Fuenlabrada University Hospital, Fuenlabrada, Spain.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bermejo
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Area - Laboratory Medicine Department, Fuenlabrada University Hospital, Fuenlabrada, Spain.
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: García-Martínez
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Department, Fuenlabrada University Hospital, Fuenlabrada, Spain.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hernández-Tejero
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Department, Fuenlabrada University Hospital, Fuenlabrada, Spain.
authors.forename: Paz
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Valer López Fando
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Department, Fuenlabrada University Hospital, Fuenlabrada, Spain.
authors.forename: Belén
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Piqueras
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Department, Fuenlabrada University Hospital, Fuenlabrada, Spain.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bermejo
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000379:methods; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral
keywords: Colonoscopy; Hepatitis C; Prevalence; Screening