Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy has significantly improved access to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection treatment and high sustained virologic response (SVR) is independent of HIV status; however, barriers and disparities to access remain. This according to a retrospective cohort study of HIV/HCV coinfected (n=507) and HCV monoinfected patients (n=9,290) at a single institution from 2011-2015 to determine treatment update and SVR and to identify barriers to accessing DAA for coinfected patients. Researchers found:

• Coinfected patients were younger and more likely to be male and African American.
• For both groups, treatment uptake improved from the DAA/pegylated interferon (PEGIFN)-ribavirin to IFN-free DAA era.
• One-third of coinfected patients in the IFN-free DAA era required antiretroviral therapy (ART) switch and nearly all remained virologically suppressed after 6 months.
• SVR for most patient subgroups was >95%, including those with coinfection, prior treatment experience, and cirrhosis.