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Knowledge of hepatitis C virus screening in long‐term pediatric cancer survivors
Author(s) -
Lansdale Meagan,
Castellino Sharon,
Marieyssa,
Goodman Pamela,
Hudson Melissa M.,
Mertens Ann C.,
Smith Stephanie M.,
Leisenring Wendy,
Robison Leslie L.,
Oeffinger Kevin C.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/cncr.24810
Subject(s) - medicine , cancer , hepatitis c virus , blood transfusion , odds ratio , confidence interval , hepatitis c , pediatric cancer , pediatrics , immunology , virus
Abstract BACKGROUND: Pediatric cancer survivors who were treated before routine hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening of blood donors in 1992 have an elevated risk of transfusion‐acquired HCV. METHODS: To assess long‐term pediatric cancer survivors' knowledge of HCV testing and blood transfusion history, a questionnaire was administered to 9242 participants in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study who are at risk for transfusion‐acquired HCV after cancer therapy from 1970 to 1986. RESULTS: More than 70% of survivors reported either no prior HCV testing (41%) or uncertainty about testing (31%), with only 29% reporting prior testing. One half recalled having a treatment‐related blood transfusion; those who recalled a transfusion were more likely to report HCV testing (39%) than those who did not (18%) or were unsure (20%). In multivariate models, survivors who reported no prior HCV testing were more likely to be older (odds ratio [OR] per 5‐year increase, 1.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0‐1.1) and to report no care at a cancer center within the past 2 years (OR, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.0‐1.4), no cancer treatment summary (OR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.2‐1.5), and no transfusions (OR, 2.6; 95% CI, 2.3‐3.0) or uncertainty about transfusions (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.9‐2.6), and less likely to be racial/ethnic minorities (OR, 0.9; 95% CI, 0.8‐1.0) or survivors of acute myeloid leukemia (OR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.5‐1.0). CONCLUSIONS: Many pediatric cancer survivors at risk for transfusion‐acquired HCV are unaware of their transfusion history and prior testing for HCV and would benefit from programs to increase HCV knowledge and screening. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.