What does this research mean for the field?

Less than one-third of treatment-eligible U.S. Veterans with chronic hepatitis B receive antiviral therapy, with major gaps driven by insufficient routine laboratory monitoring and specialty clinic follow-up. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To identify gaps in the hepatitis B treatment cascade for U.S. veterans with chronic hepatitis B infection.

April 1, 2026Open Access

Gaps and Disparities in the Hepatitis B Cascade of Care Among a National Cohort of U.S. Veterans with Chronic Hepatitis B Infection

Key Points

To identify gaps in the hepatitis B treatment cascade for U.S. veterans with chronic hepatitis B infection.
Analysis of treatment eligibility and antiviral therapy uptake among veterans
Assessment of laboratory monitoring practices
Evaluation of GI and hepatology clinic follow-up procedures
Less than one-third of eligible veterans received antiviral therapy
Routine laboratory monitoring was inadequate for many veterans
Follow-up with GI/hepatology clinics was a significant area of concern

Abstract

Less than one-third of Veterans with CHB eligible for treatment received antiviral therapy. A major contributor to gaps in treatment are due to lack of routine laboratory monitoring and GI/Hepatology clinic follow-up. Efforts aimed at improving timely CHB treatment should focus resources to ensure appropriate linkage and retention to specialty care with routine CHB monitoring.

Gaps and Disparities in the Hepatitis B Cascade of Care Among a National Cohort of U.S. Veterans with Chronic Hepatitis B Infection

Key Points

Abstract

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