Hepatitis C virus testing, liver disease assessment and treatment uptake among people who inject drugs pre‐ and post‐universal access to direct‐acting antiviral treatment in Australia: The LiveRLife study

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 281-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sahar Bajis ◽  
Jason Grebely ◽  
Behzad Hajarizadeh ◽  
Tanya Applegate ◽  
Alison D. Marshall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liver Disease ◽  
People Who Inject Drugs ◽  
Universal Access ◽  
Antiviral Treatment ◽  
Disease Assessment ◽  
Direct Acting Antiviral ◽  
Treatment Uptake ◽  
Assessment And Treatment ◽  
Direct Acting ◽  
Virus Testing

scholarly journals Perceived physical health outcomes of direct-acting antiviral treatment for hepatitis C: a qualitative study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stelliana Goutzamanis ◽  
Danielle Horyniak ◽  
Joseph S. Doyle ◽  
Margaret Hellard ◽  
Peter Higgs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Antiviral Treatment ◽  
Health Benefits ◽  
Community Treatment ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Direct Acting Antiviral ◽  
Treatment Uptake ◽  
Direct Acting

Abstract Background Novel health promotion and treatment uptake initiatives will be necessary to ensure Australia meets 2030 hepatitis C elimination targets. Increasing treatment uptake will be assisted by a better understanding of the treatment experience and patient-perceived benefits. This study describes the perceived physical health benefits from direct-acting antiviral (DAA) hepatitis C treatment among people who inject drugs in Melbourne, Australia. Methods Twenty participants were recruited from a community treatment trial and community health clinics. Semi-structured interviews were performed with each participant before, during and following treatment. Interviews focused on treatment experiences, attitudes and motivations. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed. Results Two themes relating to the physical experience of treatment developed; intersection between physical and mental health and “maybe it’s working”. Participants reported various physical benefits, most prominently, reduced fatigue. Reductions in fatigue resulted in instant and meaningful changes in everyday life. Some participants did experience side effects, which they described as mild. Experiencing noticeable physical benefits during treatment was perceived as validation that treatment was working. Conclusion Physical health benefits of DAA treatment may have carry-on effects on cognitive, emotional or social wellbeing and should be incorporated into how treatment is promoted to those who require it.

scholarly journals Hepatitis C treatment uptake among people who inject drugs in the oral direct‐acting antiviral era

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (10) ◽  
pp. 2407-2416
Author(s):  
Oluwaseun Falade‐Nwulia ◽  
Rachel E. Gicquelais ◽  
Jacquie Astemborski ◽  
Sean D. McCormick ◽  
Greg Kirk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C ◽  
People Who Inject Drugs ◽  
Hepatitis C Treatment ◽  
Direct Acting Antiviral ◽  
Treatment Uptake ◽  
Direct Acting

scholarly journals Uptake and predictors of direct-acting antiviral treatment for hepatitis C among people receiving opioid agonist therapy in Sweden and Norway: a drug utilization study from 2014 to 2017

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christer F. Aas ◽  
Jørn Henrik Vold ◽  
Svetlana Skurtveit ◽  
Ingvild Odsbu ◽  
Fatemeh Chalabianloo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Antiviral Treatment ◽  
Prescription Database ◽  
Agonist Therapy ◽  
Hcv Treatment ◽  
Opioid Agonist ◽  
Direct Acting Antiviral ◽  
Opioid Agonist Therapy ◽  
Treatment Uptake ◽  
Direct Acting

Abstract Background: Treatment with direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) offers an opportunity to eliminate hepatitis C virus (HCV) endemic among people who inject drugs (PWID) and people enrolled in opioid agonist therapy (OAT) programs. The objective of this study was to estimate and to compare HCV treatment uptake after the introduction of DAAs among patients receiving OAT in Sweden and Norway. We also aimed to evaluate predictors of DAAs treatment among OAT patients in both countries.Methods: This observational study was conducted with data from The Swedish Prescribed Drug Register and The Norwegian Prescription Database. We studied dispensed medications to calculate HCV treatment among OAT patients from 2014 to 2017 in Sweden and Norway. HCV prevalence was estimated from primary and secondary sources. Dispensations of medicines from different therapeutic areas, which served as proxy for co-morbidities in 2017, were conditionally adjusted for age, gender, and OAT medications. Logistic regression was used to evaluate these parameters. Results: In total 3,529 individuals were identified with dispensed OAT in the Swedish cohort and 7,739 individuals in the Norwegian cohort. HCV treatment was utilized by 407 persons in Sweden and 920 in Norway during the study period. Annual HCV and DAA treatment uptake increased in both countries. The estimated cumulative HCV treatment uptake at the end of 2017 was 31% in Norway and 28% in Sweden. DAA treatment was associated with increased age (aOR 1.8; 95% CI 1.0-3.2) and the dispensation of drugs used for diabetes (aOR 3.2; 95% CI 1.8-5.7) in Sweden. In Norway, lipid modifying agents and antibacterials were associated with decreased odds (aOR 0.4; 95%CI 0.2-0.9, aOR 0.8; 95%CI 0.6-1.0).Conclusions: An increase in DAA treatment and HCV treatment uptake was observed among Swedish and Norwegian OAT patients whilst introducing new direct-acting antiviral treatment regimens. However, more than two thirds of the OAT population in Norway and Sweden were untreated at the beginning of 2018. A further scale-up is crucial in order to control and eliminate the HCV endemic among OAT patients.

Estimated uptake of hepatitis C direct-acting antiviral treatment among individuals with HIV co-infection in Australia: a retrospective cohort study

Sexual Health ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nima Iranpour ◽  
Gregory J. Dore ◽  
Marianne Martinello ◽  
Gail V. Matthews ◽  
Jason Grebely ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Antiviral Treatment ◽  
First Year ◽  
Treatment Access ◽  
Direct Acting Antiviral ◽  
Treatment Uptake ◽  
Unrestricted Access ◽  
High Level ◽  
Direct Acting ◽  
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme

Background Unrestricted access to direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been available in Australia since March 2016. Individuals with HIV–HCV co-infection are at a greater risk of liver fibrosis progression. This study estimated DAA treatment uptake among individuals with HIV–HCV co-infection, during the first year of DAA treatment access in Australia. Methods: Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) data on dispensed DAA and antiretroviral therapy (ART) prescriptions from March 2016 to March 2017 were used for analysis. Results: During March 2016 to March 2017, a total of 935 individuals with HIV–HCV co-infection were receiving ART and initiated DAA treatment, with 93% to 97% completing their prescribed course. Estimated DAA treatment uptake in the HIV–HCV-infected population was 41% (935/2290). Most were men (94%). Median age was 50 years. DAA treatment was initiated by specialists in 64% of cases (n = 602), and by general practitioners (GPs) in 25% of cases (n = 238). The proportion of individuals initiated on DAA by GPs increased from 20% in March–April 2016 to 26% in January–March 2017. Most specialists (77%) and GPs (72%) initiated DAA treatment for one to three patients. Among individuals initiated on DAA by GPs, 68% received their ART prescription from the same GP. Conclusions: A high level of DAA treatment uptake and completion was observed among individuals with HIV–HCV co-infection during the first year of DAA treatment access. The proportion of individuals prescribed DAA by GPs increased over time; this is important for broadened access.

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