Attempt to calculate the prevalence and features of chronic hepatitis C infection in Tuscany using administrative data

AIM: To evaluate this prevalence in Tuscan populations that was known and unknown to the Tuscan Regional Health Service in 2015. METHODS: Tuscan Health administrative data were used to evaluate hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected people known to the Regional Health Service. Residents in Tuscany with a HCV exemption code (070.54) were identified. Using the universal code attributed to each resident, these patients were matched with hospital admission codes identified by the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9), Clinical Modification, and with codes for dispensing drugs to patients by local and hospital pharmacies. Individuals were considered only once. Capture-recapture analysis was used to evaluate the HCV-infected population unknown to the Regional Health Service. RESULTS: In total, 14526 individuals were living on 31/12/2015 with an exemption code for HCV. In total, 9524 patients were treated with pegylated interferon + ribavirin and/or direct-acting antiviral drugs during the last 10 years, and 13879 total hospital admissions were noted in the last 15 years. After data linkage, the total number was 25918. After applying the Capture-Recapture analysis, the number of unknown HCV-infected people was 23497. Therefore, the total number of chronic HCV-infected people was 38643, excluding those achieved sustained virological response to previous treatment. CONCLUSION: Our results show a prevalence of HCV infected people of 1%. Tuscan administrative data could be useful for calculating health care costs and health planning in the coming years.