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HCV Treatment Barriers in HIV/HCV-Coinfected Patients
Open Forum Infect Dis; ePub 2017 Feb 11; Wansom, et al
The removal of interferon from direct acting antivirals among patients with HIV-HCV coinfection eliminates a key barrier to the initiation of hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment; however, other barriers such as active substance abuse and racial disparities persist, a recent study found. Within the Johns Hopkins Hospital HIV cohort, a nested case-control study was conducted with patients initiating HCV treatment between January 1996 and 2013, and controls. Researchers found:
- In 208 treated cases and 624 untreated controls, the presence of advanced fibrosis (OR 2.23), recent active drug use (OR 0.36), and non-black race (OR 2.01) were independently associated with initiation of HCV therapy.
- Lower odds of HCV treatment was also the result of increasing missed visits: 25 to 49% missed visits, OR 0.49; ≥50 missed visits, OR 0.24.
Wansom T, Falade-Nwulia O, Sutcliffe CG, et al. Barriers to HCV treatment initiation in patients with HIV/HCV coinfection: Lessons from the interferon era. [Published online ahead of print February 11, 2017]. Open Forum Infect Dis. doi:10.1093/ofid/ofx024.