Picchio, Camila A.Lens, SabelaHernandez-Guerra, ManuelArenas, JuanAndrade, Raúl J.Crespo, JavierGarcía-Samaniego, JavierRomero-Gómez, ManuelTurnes, JuanCalleja, José LuisSimón, Miguel ÁngelWhite, Trenton M.Riveiro-Barciela, MarPocurull, AnnaMorales-Arraez, DaliaGómez, AlexandraButi, MariaLazarus, Jeffrey V.2023-01-112023-01-112021-12-17Picchio CA, Lens S, Hernandez-Guerra M, Arenas J, Andrade RJ, Crespo J, et al. Late presentation of chronic HBV and HCV patients seeking first time specialist care in Spain: a 2-year registry review. Sci Rep. 2021 Dec 17;11(1):24133http://hdl.handle.net/10668/4573Chronic viral hepatitis infection affects an estimated 325 million people globally. People who initiate treatment after significant disease progression face increased risk of severe liver complications and death. Data are scarce on the characteristics and risk factors of people who present late to care in Spain and globally. Data were collected from January 2018 to December 2019 to report late presentation (LP) to specialist care at 11 large university hospitals in Spain to assess related risk factors using a multivariable logistic regression model. 2290 (CHB = 505, CHC = 1785) patients were analysed, with 581 (25.2%) presenting late. Hepatitis C patients more frequently reported LP compared to hepatitis B patients (28.1% vs 15.0%; p < 0.001). Older age (p < 0.001), being male (p < 0.001), being Spanish-born (p < 0.001), and having an unknown origin of referral (p = 0.08) were associated with a higher likelihood of LP. Advanced liver disease was identified in 533 (23%) patients and late-stage liver disease in 124 (5.4%). LP, including with irreversible liver damage, to viral hepatitis specialist care is frequent in Spain, despite being a country with unrestricted treatment access. Initiatives to reduce LP should specifically target men, older individuals, foreign-born populations for CHB, and Spanish nationals for CHC.enAtribución 4.0 Internacionalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Hepatitis C, chronicHepatitis B, chronicLiver diseaseReferral and consultationDisease progressionHepatitis C crónicaHepatitis B crónicaEnfermedades hepáticasDerivación y consultaProgresión de la enfermedadMedical Subject Headings::Persons::Persons::Age Groups::AdultMedical Subject Headings::Persons::Persons::Age Groups::Adult::AgedMedical Subject Headings::Check Tags::FemaleMedical Subject Headings::Organisms::Eukaryota::Animals::Chordata::Vertebrates::Mammals::Primates::Haplorhini::Catarrhini::Hominidae::HumansMedical Subject Headings::Check Tags::MaleMedical Subject Headings::Persons::Persons::Age Groups::Adult::Middle AgedMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Investigative Techniques::Epidemiologic Methods::Epidemiologic Study Characteristics as Topic::Epidemiologic Studies::Case-Control Studies::Retrospective StudiesMedical Subject Headings::Geographical Locations::Geographic Locations::Europe::SpainMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Virus Diseases::DNA Virus Infections::Hepadnaviridae Infections::Hepatitis B::Hepatitis B, ChronicMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Virus Diseases::Hepatitis, Viral, Human::Hepatitis C::Hepatitis C, ChronicMedical Subject Headings::Health Care::Health Care Facilities, Manpower, and Services::Health Facilities::Academic Medical Centers::Hospitals, TeachingMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Investigative Techniques::Epidemiologic Methods::Data Collection::RegistriesMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Investigative Techniques::Epidemiologic Methods::Statistics as Topic::Models, Statistical::Logistic ModelsMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Virus Diseases::Hepatitis, Viral, Human::Hepatitis CMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Digestive System Diseases::Liver DiseasesMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Virus Diseases::Hepatitis, Viral, Human::Hepatitis BMedical Subject Headings::Organisms::Viruses::Hepatitis Viruses::HepacivirusMedical Subject Headings::Health Care::Health Services Administration::Organization and Administration::Professional Practice::Referral and ConsultationMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms::Pathologic Processes::Disease Attributes::Disease ProgressionMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Investigative Techniques::Epidemiologic Methods::Epidemiologic Study Characteristics as Topic::Epidemiologic Studies::Cohort Studiesresearch article34921156open access10.1038/s41598-021-01885-02045-2322PMC8683418