Community-Based, Point-of-Diagnosis Hepatitis C Treatment Improves Outcomes
“People experiencing homelessness and people who inject drugs (PWID) achieved successful hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment outcomes and sustained virologic response (SVR) 12 weeks after starting treatment at the point of diagnosis in a nonclinical setting.”
A Square Peg in a Round Hole: Treating Hepatitis C
“Several barriers along the cascade of care reduce hepatitis C treatment access. We propose an investment in patient-centered care strategies to initiate and engage this vulnerable population with curative treatment, such as the implementation of community-based educational peer support groups. Barriers to implementing these patient-centered care strategies remain.”
Prevention and control of infectious diseases among people who inject drugs — 2023 update
“This joint guidance report explores good public health practices that can support effective policies to reduce infections. Common blood-borne viruses in this group include HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. These are mainly spread through the sharing of needles, syringes and drug preparation equipment or unprotected sexual contacts.”
Hepatitis C drug resistance webinar: Awareness of hepatitis C drug resistance as access to hepatitis C diagnosis and treatment expands
“As diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis C expand to achieve global hepatitis elimination goals, we have a unique opportunity to optimise hepatitis C treatment through maximising population-level outcome and prevention and responding to possible emergence of drug-resistant hepatitis C. This webinar will present an overview of current knowledge on hepatitis C drug resistance in low- and middle-income countries and present WHO’s plan to prevent, monitor and respond to possible hepatitis C drug resistance in an integrated Global Action Plan linking drug resistance for viral hepatitis, HIV and sexually transmitted infections.”
The Need for Patient-Centered Care in Hepatitis C Treatment
“The current healthcare system in the United States often fails to adequately address the complex needs of patients with hepatitis C. Instead of considering the whole person, medical providers typically focus on isolated medical concerns during limited and inflexible appointments. This outdated system, coupled with a lack of innovation in the patient experience, poses significant barriers to hepatitis C treatment.”
New strategies assembled to address rising hepatitis C cases
“The viral infection hepatitis C is a major public health problem that can lead to liver disease, liver cancer, and death. The viral disease is usually spread through blood-to-blood contact. Intravenous drug misuse is the primary cause worldwide.”
Hepatitis C in Black Individuals in the US – A Review
“Importance In the US, the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is 1.8% among people who are Black and 0.8% among people who are not Black. Mortality rates due to HCV are 5.01/100 000 among people who are Black and 2.98/100 000 among people who are White.”
People Who Inject Drugs Can Be Linked to Hepatitis C Treatment During Hospitalization
“Starting antiviral treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) during hospitalization, with follow-up care via telehealth, increased the likelihood that people who use drugs would complete the course of therapy and be cured, according to study findings published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. “This model was successful in engaging a difficult-to-reach patient population with a high prevalence and incidence of HCV infection,” L. Madeline McCrary, MD, of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and colleagues concluded. “This approach may be generalizable to other hospitalized patients with HCV and prolonged admissions.””
Why testing newborns is critical for U.S. fight against hepatitis C
“Millions of Americans are estimated to live with chronic hepatitis C. Incidents of new infections have more than doubled since 2013, and for decades, stigma has played an outsized role in determining access to testing and treatment.”
PCORI study: Telemedicine treatment for HCV in people with opioid use disorder was more than twice as successful as offsite referral
“Participants cured of hepatitis C also decreased their opioid use and had minimal reinfections during two years of observation”
Tatyana Kushner, MD, MSCE: HCV Screening, Treatment, and Elimination
“In an interview with HCPLive during The Liver Meeting 2023 from the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) in Boston this weekend, Tatyana Kushner, MD, MSCE, associate professor of medicine in the division of liver diseases at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, discussed the White House hepatitis C elimination plan, clinicians’ role in addressing this issue, and disparities in patients affected by HCV.”
Can the US Replicate India’s Hepatitis C Eradication Model?
“Premkumar: I am surprised that the US has not taken up the program in such a way. I mean, countries like Australia, even smaller countries like Ireland, are well on their way to elimination. Egypt has eliminated with I think one-eighth of the GDP of the US. So I find it quite astonishing that these drugs are not made available to people because this is something that prevents death, something that prevents a lot of disease-related burden on society and disability-associated life disruptions that are occurring to people. And it would really bring a good amount of restoration of health services, rather than dealing with decompensated cirrhosis, increasing transplants, increasing cancers in the community, it would be much better to nip it in the bud.”
