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Li Y, Zhang M, Xu Y, Li X, Lu T. Availability, price, and affordability of anti-hepatitis B virus drugs: a cross-sectional study in China. Int J Clin Pharm 2024:10.1007/s11096-024-01706-0. [PMID: 38472597 DOI: 10.1007/s11096-024-01706-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The global prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) has presented a persistent challenge for public health prevention and treatment. However, studies that assess the public's access to anti-HBV drugs are absent. AIM To examine the availability, pricing, and affordability of anti-HBV drugs in Jiangsu province, China and provide recommendations for improvement. METHOD An enhanced methodology developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Health Action International was applied in a cross-sectional study that included 1026 healthcare facilities distributed in 13 prefectural-level cities in Jiangsu province. RESULTS Since almost all drugs had an availability of less than 30%, the accessibility of anti-HBV drugs was notably low. Primary healthcare facilities had the lowest availability, reporting 1.4% for Original Brands (OBs) and 1.7% for lowest-priced generics (LPGs). Furthermore, the northern Jiangsu region recorded the lowest availability at 0.7%. LPGs demonstrated higher availability than OBs, with median availability probabilities of 2.6% and 1.4%, respectively. The drugs listed on the WHO Essential Medicines List exhibited higher availability than those on other lists. The median price ratios for OBs, LPGs, and volume-based purchasing drugs were 0.83, 0.50, and 0.27, respectively, less than 1.5 times the international reference price. Despite favorable pricing, affordability rate was 23% for urban residents and 0% for rural residents, which was discouraging. CONCLUSION Low availability and affordability of anti-HBV drugs were observed. Policy recommendations should emphasize the improvement of LPG availability by incentivizing priority prescribing. Healthcare subsidies should be provided more effectively and equitably.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Li
- School of International Pharmaceutical Business, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Mengdie Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Regulatory Science and Pharmacoeconomics, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Xu
- Department of Pharmacy, The First People's Hospital of Lianyungang, Lianyungang, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Li
- Department of Pharmaceutical Regulatory Science and Pharmacoeconomics, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Tao Lu
- School of International Pharmaceutical Business, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China.
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Younossi ZM, Wong G, Anstee QM, Henry L. The Global Burden of Liver Disease. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 21:1978-1991. [PMID: 37121527 DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2023.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Chronic liver disease (CLD) and its associated complications (cirrhosis and liver cancer) cause significant mortality, morbidity, and economic burden. Published data from the World Health Organization and/or the Global Burden of Disease show that the burden of CLD is large and increasing, primarily owing to the increasing burden of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and alcohol-related liver disease (ALD). Middle Eastern, Northern African, and Asian regions of the globe are most affected by hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus. Furthermore, Middle Eastern and North African regions also are affected by nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and Eastern European, West African, and Central Asian regions are affected by ALD. In this context, the rate of increase for cirrhosis is highest in the Middle East, as well as in middle high and high sociodemographic index (SDI) regions. On the other hand, the highest SDI countries are experiencing increasing rates of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Assessing HCC burden based on country and etiology shows that China, Korea, India, Japan, and Thailand have the highest hepatitis B virus-related HCC cases, while China, Japan, and the United States have the highest hepatitis C virus-related HCC cases. Additionally, the United States has the highest ALD-related HCC cases, while India, the United States, and Thailand have the highest nonalcoholic steatohepatitis-related HCC cases. Although the burden of CLD is increasing globally, regions of the world are impacted differently as a result of a number of sociodemographic factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zobair M Younossi
- Betty and Guy Beatty Center for Integrated Research, Inova Health System, Falls Church, Virginia; Center for Liver Disease, Department of Medicine, Inova Fairfax Medical Campus, Falls Church, Virginia; Inova Medicine, Inova Health System, Falls Church, Virginia.
| | - Grace Wong
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Quentin M Anstee
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom; Newcastle National Institute Health and Care Research Biomedical Research Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals National Health Service Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Linda Henry
- Betty and Guy Beatty Center for Integrated Research, Inova Health System, Falls Church, Virginia; Inova Medicine, Inova Health System, Falls Church, Virginia; Center for Outcomes Research in Liver Disease, Washington, District of Columbia
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3
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Johannessen A, Stockdale AJ, Henrion MYR, Okeke E, Seydi M, Wandeler G, Sonderup M, Spearman CW, Vinikoor M, Sinkala E, Desalegn H, Fall F, Riches N, Davwar P, Duguru M, Maponga T, Taljaard J, Matthews PC, Andersson M, Mboup S, Sombie R, Shimakawa Y, Lemoine M. Systematic review and individual-patient-data meta-analysis of non-invasive fibrosis markers for chronic hepatitis B in Africa. Nat Commun 2023; 14:45. [PMID: 36596805 PMCID: PMC9810658 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35729-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In sub-Saharan Africa, simple biomarkers of liver fibrosis are needed to scale-up hepatitis B treatment. We conducted an individual participant data meta-analysis of 3,548 chronic hepatitis B patients living in eight sub-Saharan African countries to assess the World Health Organization-recommended aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index and two other fibrosis biomarkers using a Bayesian bivariate model. Transient elastography was used as a reference test with liver stiffness measurement thresholds at 7.9 and 12.2kPa indicating significant fibrosis and cirrhosis, respectively. At the World Health Organization-recommended cirrhosis threshold (>2.0), aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index had sensitivity (95% credible interval) of only 16.5% (12.5-20.5). We identified an optimised aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index rule-in threshold (>0.65) for liver stiffness measurement >12.2kPa with sensitivity and specificity of 56.2% (50.5-62.2) and 90.0% (89.0-91.0), and an optimised rule-out threshold (<0.36) with sensitivity and specificity of 80.6% (76.1-85.1) and 64.3% (62.8-65.8). Here we show that the World Health Organization-recommended aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index threshold is inappropriately high in sub-Saharan Africa; improved rule-in and rule-out thresholds can optimise treatment recommendations in this setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asgeir Johannessen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Vestfold Hospital, Tønsberg, Norway.
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Alexander J Stockdale
- Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Marc Y R Henrion
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Edith Okeke
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria
| | - Moussa Seydi
- Service de Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Centre Regional de Recherche et de Formation, Centre Hospitalier National Universitaire de Fann, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Gilles Wandeler
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Mark Sonderup
- Division of Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - C Wendy Spearman
- Division of Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Michael Vinikoor
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Edford Sinkala
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Hailemichael Desalegn
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Vestfold Hospital, Tønsberg, Norway
- Medical Department, St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Fatou Fall
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Hopital Principal de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Nicholas Riches
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Pantong Davwar
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria
| | - Mary Duguru
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria
| | - Tongai Maponga
- Division of Medical Virology, Stellenbosch University Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Jantjie Taljaard
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Tygerberg Hospital and Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Philippa C Matthews
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- University College London, London, UK
| | - Monique Andersson
- Division of Medical Virology, Stellenbosch University Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Cape Town, South Africa
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Souleyman Mboup
- L'Institut de Recherche en Santé, de Surveillance Épidémiologique et de Formations (IRESSEF), Dakar, Senegal
| | - Roger Sombie
- Yalgado Ouédraogo University Hospital Center, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Yusuke Shimakawa
- Unité d'Epidémiologie des Maladies Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Maud Lemoine
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Division of Digestive Diseases, Hepatology section, Imperial College London, London, UK
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Duodu PA, Darkwah E, Agbadi P, Duah HO, Nutor JJ. Prevalence and geo-clinicodemographic factors associated with hepatitis B vaccination among healthcare workers in five developing countries. BMC Infect Dis 2022; 22:599. [PMID: 35799107 PMCID: PMC9264656 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-022-07556-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background There is a four-fold risk for hepatitis B infection among healthcare workers compared to the general population. Due to limited access to diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis B in many resource-constrained settings, there is a real risk that only few healthcare workers with viral hepatitis may get screened or diagnosed and treated. Studies on hepatitis B vaccination among healthcare workers in developing countries are sparse and this bodes ill for intervention and support. The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence and explored the associated factors that predicted the uptake of the required, full dosage of hepatitis B vaccination among healthcare workers (HCWs) in five developing countries using nationally representative data. Methods We used recent datasets from the Demographic and Health Surveys Program’s Service Provision Assessment Survey. Descriptive summary statistics and logistic regressions were used to produce the results. Statistical significance was pegged at p < 0.05. Results The proportion of HCWs who received the required doses of hepatitis B vaccine in Afghanistan, Haiti, Malawi, Nepal, and Senegal were 69.1%, 11.3%, 15.4%, 46.5%, and 17.6%, respectively. Gender, occupational qualification, and years of education were significant correlates of receiving the required doses of hepatitis B among HCWs. Conclusions Given the increased risk of hepatitis B infection among healthcare workers, policymakers in developing countries should intensify education campaigns among HCWs and, perhaps, must take it a step further by making hepatitis B vaccination compulsory and a key requirement for employment, especially among those workers who regularly encounter bodily fluids of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Precious Adade Duodu
- Department of Nursing and Midwifery, School of Human and Health Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Queensgate, Huddersfield, England, UK
| | - Ernest Darkwah
- Department of Psychology, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 84, Legon, Ghana
| | - Pascal Agbadi
- Department of Sociology and Social Policy, Lingnan University, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | | | - Jerry John Nutor
- Department of Family Health Care Nursing, School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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