HBV-HCV Cancer and Immunization Registry Matching Toolkit

NASTAD, in collaboration with the Hepatitis B Foundation, has developed the HBV-HCV Cancer and Immunization Registry Matching Toolkit to support health departments in strengthening the use of surveillance data to inform viral hepatitis prevention, care, and cancer control efforts. Hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) are leading causes of liver cancer, yet viral hepatitis surveillance, cancer registry, and immunization data are often maintained in separate public health systems. By linking these data sources, jurisdictions can better characterize the burden of HBV- and HCV-associated liver cancer, identify disparities in cancer outcomes, assess gaps in prevention and care, and inform strategies to reduce liver cancer morbidity and mortality.

The toolkit provides practical guidance for jurisdictions interested in establishing or strengthening data linkage activities across viral hepatitis surveillance systems, cancer registries, and immunization information systems. It outlines key data sources and variables, data governance and legal considerations, data preparation and standardization, matching methodologies, and recommended analytic approaches. Examples include examining liver cancer incidence and outcomes among people with HBV or HCV, assessing patterns of engagement in care before cancer diagnosis, evaluating HBV vaccination coverage, and identifying missed opportunities for vaccination. The resource also describes opportunities to examine demographic and geographic disparities, incorporate community-level indicators, and use linked data to better understand populations disproportionately affected by viral hepatitis and liver cancer.

Recognizing differences in jurisdictional data infrastructure, staffing, and analytic capacity, the toolkit offers a flexible framework that programs can adapt to their available resources and priorities. It addresses important limitations related to data completeness, reporting practices, and the availability of clinical and immunization information, while emphasizing data-sharing agreements, privacy protections, and sustainable matching workflows. Importantly, the toolkit encourages jurisdictions to translate findings into actionable public health strategies, including targeted vaccination outreach, improved linkage to care, and resource allocation in communities experiencing a disproportionate burden of disease. Jurisdictions are encouraged to explore opportunities for collaboration across their viral hepatitis, cancer surveillance, and immunization programs to strengthen data-driven prevention and elimination efforts.

For questions, please contact Isabel Lechuga.