Population impact of direct-acting antiviral treatment on new presentations of hepatitis C-related decompensated cirrhosis: a national record-linkage study

Trends in cause-specific mortality among people with hepatitis C virus in New South Wales, Australia

BACKGROUND

Monitoring of HCV-related morbidity and mortality is crucial to evaluate direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy impact and HCV elimination progress. This population-based study examined mortality among individuals with an HCV notification in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, including cause-specific mortality prior to and during the viral hepatitis elimination era (2015-2021).

METHODS

HCV notifications in NSW, Australia (1995-2021) were linked to hospitalisation records and cause-specific mortality records. Over the period 2002-2021, all-cause and cause-specific mortality rates were examined. Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess factors associated with mortality during the viral hepatitis elimination era.

RESULTS

Among people with HCV notifications in 1995-2021, 112,046 were alive during 2002-2021 and contributed to mortality analyses. All-cause mortality per 100,000 population increased from 5.5 in 2002 to 13.4 in 2015 and plateaued at 12.9 in 2021. Liver-related mortality per 100,000 population increased from 2.0 in 2002 to 5.9 in 2015, before declining to 4.6 in 2021. Drug-related mortality per 100,000 population increased from 0.7 in 2002 to 1.8 in 2015, before declining to 1.2 in 2021. Factors associated with increased mortality risk during 2015-2021 included: recent injecting drug use (adjusted Hazard Ratio [aHR] 7.22, 95 % CI 6.84-7.62) and recent alcohol use disorder (aHR 3.17, 95 % CI 2.97-3.37). Recent opioid agonist therapy (aHR 0.47, 95 % CI 0.43-0.51) and recent incarceration (aHR 0.32, 95 % CI 0.23-0.45) were associated with lower mortality risk.

CONCLUSION

During the HCV elimination era, both liver-related and drug-related mortality have declined, suggesting direct and indirect impacts of DAA therapy, respectively. Expanded opioid agonist therapy coverage and enhanced alcohol use disorder management could further reduce mortality.

Serum Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer dynamics in patients achieving sustained virologic response for hepatitis C virus

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Understanding the dynamics of serum Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi) remains pivotal for hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients' post-sustained virologic response (SVR12) through direct-acting antivirals (DAAs).

METHODS

We compared areas under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROCs) of M2BPGi, FIB-4, and APRI and assess M2BPGi cutoff levels in predicting fibrosis stages of ≥F3 and F4 utilizing transient elastography in 638 patients. Variations in M2BPGi levels from pretreatment to SVR12 and their association with pretreatment alanine transaminase (ALT) levels and fibrosis stage were investigated.

RESULTS

The AUROCs of M2BPGi were comparable to FIB-4 in predicting ≥F3 (0.914 vs 0.902, P = 0.48) and F4 (0.947 vs 0.915, P = 0.05) but were superior to APRI in predicting ≥F3 (0.914 vs 0.851, P = 0.001) and F4 (0.947 vs 0.857, P < 0.001). Using M2BPGi cutoff values of 2.83 and 3.98, fibrosis stages of ≥F3 and F4 were confirmed with a positive likelihood ratio ≥10. The median M2BPGi change was -0.55. Patients with ALT levels ≥5 times ULN or ≥F3 demonstrated more pronounced median decreases in M2BPGi level compared to those with ALT levels 2-5 times ULN and <2 times ULN (-0.97 vs -0.68 and -0.44; P < 0.001) or with < F3 (-1.52 vs -0.44; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Serum M2BPGi is a reliable marker for advanced hepatic fibrosis. Following viral clearance, there is a notable M2BPGi decrease, with the extent of reduction influenced by ALT levels and fibrosis stage.

Trends in viral hepatitis liver-related morbidity and mortality in New South Wales, Australia

Background

Monitoring hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) liver-related morbidity and mortality is key to evaluate progress towards elimination targets.

Methods

HBV and HCV notifications in NSW, Australia (1995-2022) were linked to hospital and mortality records. Temporal trends in decompensated cirrhosis (DC), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and mortality were evaluated among people notified for HBV and HCV. Segmented Poisson regression models were used to assess the impact of the viral hepatitis elimination era (1 January 2015-31 December 2022) on advanced liver disease and mortality.

Findings

During 1995-2022, there were 64,865 people with an HBV notification and 112,277 people with an HCV notification in NSW. Between 2002 and 2022, there were significant reductions in age-adjusted HBV- and HCV-related DC, HCC, and liver-related mortality. Among those with HBV, age-standardised incidence per 1000 person-years (py) in 2002, 2015, and 2022 was 3.08, 1.47, and 1.16 for DC (p < 0.001); 2.97, 1.45, and 0.75 for HCC (p < 0.001); and 2.84, 1.93, and 1.40 for liver-related mortality (p < 0.001). Among those with HCV, age-standardised incidence per 1000 py in 2002, 2015, and 2022, was 5.53, 4.57, and 2.31 for DC (p < 0.001); 2.22, 2.59, and 1.87 for HCC (p < 0.001); and 3.89, 4.73, and 3.16 for liver-related mortality (p < 0.001). In 2022, absolute liver-related mortality per 100,000 population was 0.95 for HBV and 3.56 for HCV. In adjusted analyses, older age, comorbidity, and a history of alcohol use disorder were associated with increased liver-related mortality among those with HBV and HCV.

Interpretation

This population-level study demonstrated declining risks of DC, HCC, and mortality, with HBV-related declines commencing well before elimination era while HCV-related declines were mostly during elimination era. Population liver mortality indicates elimination target achieved for combined viral hepatitis and HBV, but not HCV.

Funding

The Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, and New South Wales Ministry of Health, Australia.

Impact of Treatment with Direct Antivirals on Coagulation Parameters in Patients with Hepatitis C Virus-Related Liver Cirrhosis and Sustained Virological Response

Background and Objectives: Sustained virologic responses (SVRs) lead to a decrease in portal hypertension, the regression of fibrosis, and the improvement in the hepatic synthesis of procoagulant and anticoagulant factors. We aimed to assess the influence of SVR on coagulation parameters in cirrhotic patients with HCV treated with DAAs. Methods: We performed a prospective study in the Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Iasi, Romania, between January 2022 and February 2024. We included patients diagnosed with compensated and decompensated HCV-related liver cirrhosis, treated with direct antivirals (PrOD ± RBV or SOF/LED ± RBV) for 12/24 weeks. Blood samples for biochemical, immunological, and coagulation tests were collected at the baseline, end of treatment (EOT), and once sustained virological response had been achieved over a period of 12/24 weeks (SVR12/24). Results: We analyzed a group of 52 patients with HCV-related liver cirrhosis, predominantly female (68.0%), and the degree of severity of cirrhosis placed the patients mainly in Child-Pugh classes B (40%) and C (36%). All patients achieved SVRs. The MELD score decreased at EOT (13.48 ± 4.273; p = 0.001) and SVR (9.88 ± 2.774; p = 0.000), compared to the baseline (14.92 ± 4.707). The FibroScan values decreased at SVR (17.596 ± 3.7276; p = 0.000) compared to the baseline (26.068 ± 7.0954). For all common coagulation parameters (platelets, INR, PT, fibrinogen, aPTT), there was a trend towards improvement during treatment, including changes which were statistically significant for the majority of patients. Factor II was low at the baseline (75.40 ± 7.506) but increased at EOT (87.40 ± 9.587) and, later, at SVR (99.12 ± 11.695; p = 0.000). The FVIII values increased at the baseline (175.52 ± 16.414) and decreased at EOT (151.48 ± 13.703) and SVR (143.40 ± 13.937). The FvW values decreased during treatment (146.84 ± 9.428, at baseline; 141.32 ± 9.690, p = 0.000, at EOT; and 126.68 ± 17.960, at SVR). In regard to the anticoagulant factors (PC, PS, ATIII), a significant improvement was brought on by SVR. Advanced stages of liver disease showed the most diminished FII activity, while at the baseline and in Child-Pugh C patients we recorded the highest values of FVIII and FvW. Conclusions: Our study proved that the "reset" of coagulopathy might be due to the improvement in liver function due to viral eradication secondary to AAD therapy.

Evaluating the effect of direct-acting antiviral agent treatment scale-up on Hepatitis C virus prevalence among people who inject drugs in UK

BACKGROUND

There is limited empirical work assessing the effectiveness of treatment as prevention (TasP) in reducing HCV prevalence among people who inject drugs (PWID). Here, we used survey data from the UK during 2010-2020, to evaluate the impact of direct-acting antiviral agent (DAA) treatment scale-up, which started in 2015, on HCV prevalence among PWID.

METHODS

We fitted a logistic regression to time/location specific data on prevalence from the Needle Exchange Surveillance Initiative in Scotland and Unlinked Anonymous Monitoring programme in England. For each post-intervention year and location, we quantified the effect of TasP as the difference between estimated prevalence and its counterfactual (prevalence in the absence of scale-up). Progress to elimination was assessed by comparing most recent prevalence against one in 2015.

RESULTS

In 2015, prevalence ranged from 0.44 to 0.71 across the 23 locations (3 Scottish, 20 English). Compared to counterfactuals, there was an absolute reduction of 46% (95% credible interval [32%,59%]) in Tayside in 2020, 35% ([24%,44%]) in Glasgow in 2019, and 25% ([10%,39%]) in the Rest of Scotland in 2020. The English sites with highest estimated absolute reductions in 2021 were South Yorkshire (45%, [29%,58%]), Thames Valley (49%, [34%,59%]) and West London (41%, [14%,59%]). Compared to 2015, there was 80% probability that prevalence had fallen by 65% in Tayside, 53% in Glasgow and 36% in the Rest of Scotland. The English sites with highest % prevalence decrease compared to 2015, achieved with probability 80%, were Chesire & Merseyside (70%), South Yorkshire (65%) and Thames Valley (71%). Higher treatment intensity was associated with higher reductions in prevalence.

CONCLUSION

Conclusion. Real-world evidence showing substantial reductions in chronic HCV associated with increase of HCV treatment scale-up in the community thus supporting the effectiveness of HCV treatmen as prevention in people who inject drugs.

A transient positive association between direct-acting antiviral therapy for hepatitis C infection and drug-related hospitalization among people who inject drugs: Self-controlled case-series analysis of national data

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment has an established positive effect on liver outcomes in people with hepatitis C infection; however, there is insufficient evidence regarding its effects on the 'extra-hepatic' outcomes of drug-related hospitalization and mortality (DRM) among people who inject drugs (PWID). We investigated associations between these outcomes and DAA treatment by comparing post-treatment to baseline periods using a within-subjects design to minimize selection bias concerns with cohort or case-control designs.

DESIGN

This was a self-controlled case-series study.

SETTING

Scotland, 1 January 2015-30 November 2020.

PARTICIPANTS

The study population of non-cirrhotic, DAA-treated PWID was identified using a data set linking Scotland's hepatitis C diagnosis, HCV clinical databases, national inpatient/day-case hospital records and the national deaths register. Three principal outcomes (drug overdose admission, non-viral injecting related admission and drug-related mortality) were defined using ICD codes.

MEASUREMENTS

Self-controlled case-series methodology was used to estimate the relative incidence (RI) of each outcome associated with time on treatment and up to six 90-day exposure risk periods thereafter.

FINDINGS

A total of 6050 PWID were treated with DAAs in the sampling time-frame. Compared with the baseline period, there was a significantly lowered risk of a drug overdose hospital admission in the second to fifth exposure risk periods only [relative incidence (RI) = 0.86, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.80-0.99; 0.89, 95% CI = 0.80-0.99; 0.86, 95% CI = 0.77-0.96; 0.88, 95% CI = 0.78-0.99, respectively]. For non-viral injecting-related admission, there was a reduced risk in the first, third and fourth exposure risk periods (RI = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.64-0.90; 0.75, 95% CI = 0.62-0.90; 0.79, 95% CI = 0.66-0.96, respectively). There was no evidence for reduced DRM risk in any period following treatment end.

CONCLUSIONS

Among people who inject drugs in Scotland, direct-acting antiviral treatment appears to be associated with a small, non-durable reduction in the risk of drug-related hospital admission, but not drug-related mortality. Direct-acting antiviral therapy, despite high effectiveness against liver disease, does not appear to offer a panacea for reducing other drug-related health harms.

Recent Advances in the Pathogenesis and Clinical Evaluation of Portal Hypertension in Chronic Liver Disease

In chronic liver disease, hepatic stellate cell activation and degeneration of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells lead to structural changes, which are secondary to fibrosis and the presence of regenerative nodules in the sinusoids, and to functional changes, which are related to vasoconstriction. The combination of such changes increases intrahepatic vascular resistance and causes portal hypertension. The subsequent increase in splanchnic and systemic hyperdynamic circulation further increases the portal blood flow, thereby exacerbating portal hypertension. In clinical practice, the hepatic venous pressure gradient is the gold-standard measure of portal hypertension; a value of ≥10 mm Hg is defined as clinically significant portal hypertension, which is severe and is associated with the risk of liver-related events. Hepatic venous pressure gradient measurement is somewhat invasive, so evidence on the utility of risk stratification by elastography and serum biomarkers is needed. The various stages of cirrhosis are associated with different outcomes. In viral hepatitis-related cirrhosis, viral suppression or elimination by nucleos(t)ide analog or direct-acting antivirals results in recompensation of liver function and portal pressure. However, careful follow-up should be continued, because some cases have residual clinically significant portal hypertension even after achieving sustained virologic response. In this study, we reviewed the current and future prospects for portal hypertension.

Improved health-related quality of life after hepatitis C viraemic clearance among people who inject drugs may not be durable

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Chronic infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) has a detrimental impact on health-related quality of life (QoL). Scale-up of HCV direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy among people who inject drugs (PWID) is underway in several countries since the introduction of interferon-free regimens. This study aimed to assess the impact of DAA treatment success on QoL for PWID.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study using two rounds of the Needle Exchange Surveillance Initiative, a national anonymous bio-behavioural survey and a longitudinal study involving PWID who underwent DAA therapy.

SETTING

The setting for the cross-sectional study was Scotland (2017-2018, 2019-2020). The setting for the longitudinal study was the Tayside region of Scotland (2019-2021).

PARTICIPANTS

In the cross-sectional study PWID were recruited from services providing injecting equipment (n = 4009). In the longitudinal study, participants were PWID on DAA therapy (n = 83).

MEASUREMENTS

In the cross-sectional study, the association between QoL (measured using the EQ-5D-5L quality of life instrument) and HCV diagnosis and treatment was assessed using multilevel linear regression. In the longitudinal study, QoL was compared at four timepoints using multilevel regression, from treatment commencement until 12 months following commencement.

FINDINGS

In the cross-sectional study, 41% (n = 1618) were ever chronically HCV infected, of whom 78% (n = 1262) were aware of their status and of whom 64% (n = 704) had undergone DAA therapy. There was no evidence for a marked QoL improvement associated with viral clearance among those treated for HCV (B = 0.03; 95% CI, -0.03 to 0.09). In the longitudinal study, improved QoL was observed at the sustained virologic response test timepoint (B = 0.18; 95% CI, 0.10-0.27), but this was not maintained at 12 months following start of treatment (B = 0.02; 95% CI, -0.05 to 0.10).

CONCLUSIONS

Successful direct-acting antiviral therapy for hepatitis C infection may not lead to a durable improvement in quality of life among people who inject drugs, although there may be a transient improvement around the time of sustained virologic response. Economic models of the impact of scaling-up treatment may need to include more conservative quality of life benefits over and above reductions in mortality, disease progression and transmission of infection.

Securing wider EU commitment to the elimination of hepatitis C virus

In 2016, the Hepatitis B and C Public Policy Association (HepBCPPA), gathered all the main stakeholders in the field of hepatitis C virus (HCV) to launch the now landmark HCV Elimination Manifesto, calling for the elimination of HCV in the EU by 2030. Since then, many European countries have made progress towards HCV elimination. Multiple programmes-from the municipality level to the EU level-were launched, resulting in an overall decrease in viremic HCV infections and liver-related mortality. However, as of 2021, most countries are not on track to reach the 2030 HCV elimination targets set by the WHO. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a decrease in HCV diagnoses and fewer direct-acting antiviral treatment initiations in 2020. Diagnostic and therapeutic tools to easily diagnose and treat chronic HCV infection are now well established. Treating all patients with chronic HCV infection is more cost-saving than treating and caring for patients with liver-related complications, decompensated cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. It is more important than ever to reinforce and scale-up action towards HCV elimination. Yet, efforts urgently need the dedicated commitment of policymakers at all governmental and policy levels. Therefore, the third EU Policy Summit, held in March 2021, featured EU parliamentarians and other key decision makers to promote dialogue and take strides towards securing wider EU commitment to advance and achieve HCV elimination by 2030. We have summarized the key action points and reported the 'Call-to-Action' statement supported by all the major relevant European associations in the field.

The burden of hepatitis C virus in the world, China, India, and the United States from 1990 to 2019

Background and aim

Hepatitis C virus infection can lead to an enormous health burden worldwide. Investigating the changes in HCV-related burden between different countries could provide inferences for disease management. Hence, we aim to explore the temporal tendency of the disease burden associated with HCV infection in China, India, the United States, and the world.

Methods

Detailed data on the total burden of disease related to HCV infection were collected from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 database. Joinpoint regression models were used to simulate the optimal joinpoints of annual percent changes (APCs). Further analysis of the age composition of each index over time and the relationship between ASRs and the socio-demographic Index (SDI) were explored. Finally, three factors (population growth, population aging, and age-specific changes) were deconstructed for the changes in the number of incidences, deaths, and DALYs.

Results

It was estimated that 6.2 million new HCV infections, 0.54 million HCV-related deaths, and 15.3 million DALYs worldwide in 2019, with an increase of 25.4, 59.1, and 43.6%, respectively, from 1990, are mainly due to population growth and aging. China experienced a sharp drop in age-standardized rates in 2019, the United States showed an upward trend, and India exhibited a fluctuating tendency in the burden of disease. The incidence was increasing in all locations recently.

Conclusion

HCV remains a global health concern despite tremendous progress being made. The disease burden in China improved significantly, while the burden in the United States was deteriorating, with new infections increasing recently, suggesting more targeted interventions to be established to realize the 2030 elimination goals.

Hepatitis C Virus Epidemiology in Lithuania: Situation before Introduction of the National Screening Programme

In 2022, the Lithuanian health authorities decided to pay general practitioners a fee for performing serological tests for hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies in the population born from 1945 to 1994 once per life and annual HCV testing for PWID and HIV infected patients. This study aimed to assess trends in HCV-related mortality in the country and the prevalence of HCV infection among patients with liver diseases and evaluate possibilities of screening for HCV infection at a primary health care center. Age-standardized mortality rates in 2010–2020 were calculated for deaths caused by chronic hepatitis C and some liver diseases. Data on HCV infection among patients with liver cirrhosis, cancer and transplant patients were collected from the tertiary care hospital Kauno Klinikos. The prevalence of anti-HCV and risk factors of HCV infection was assessed among patients registered with the health care center in Klaipeda, where a pilot study of screening was performed. No steady trend in mortality was observed. Analysis of medical documentation showed that 40.5% of patients with liver cirrhosis, 49.7% with cancers and 36.9% of transplant patients were HCV infected. Over the year, 4867 patients were screened in the primary health care center. Positive anti-HCV prevalence was 1.7% (2.1% in men and 1.3% in women). Blood transfusion and being a blood donor before 1993 also having tattoos were associated with higher odds of HCV infection. The study revealed the active participation of individuals in HCV screening.

Interventions to enhance testing, linkage to care, and treatment initiation for hepatitis C virus infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Despite the goal set by WHO to eliminate hepatitis C virus (HCV) as a public health threat, uptake of HCV testing and treatment remains low. To achieve this target, evidence-based interventions are needed to address the barriers to care for people with, or at risk of, HCV infection. We aimed to assess the efficacy of interventions to improve HCV antibody testing, HCV RNA testing, linkage to HCV care, and treatment initiation.

METHODS

In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus, Web of Science, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and PsycINFO without language restrictions for reports published between database inception and July 21, 2020, assessing the following primary outcomes: HCV antibody testing; HCV RNA testing; linkage to HCV care; and direct-acting antiviral treatment initiation. We also searched key conference abstracts. We included randomised and non-randomised studies assessing non-pharmaceutical interventions that included a comparator or control group. Studies were excluded if they enrolled only paediatric populations (aged <18 years) or if they conducted the intervention in a different health-care setting to that of the control or comparator. Authors were contacted to clarify study details and to obtain additional population-level data. Data were extracted from the records identified into a pre-piloted and standardised data extraction form and a random-effects meta-analysis was used to pool the effects of the interventions on study outcomes. This study is registered in PROSPERO, CRD42020178035.

FINDINGS

Of 15 342 unique records identified, 142 were included, which reported on 148 unique studies (47 randomised controlled trials and 101 non-randomised studies). Medical chart reminders, provider education, and point-of-care antibody testing significantly improved at least three study outcomes compared with a comparator or control. Interventions that simplified HCV testing, including dried blood spot testing, point-of-care antibody testing, reflex RNA testing, and opt-out screening, significantly improved testing outcomes compared with a comparator or control. Enhanced patient and provider support through patient education, provider care coordination, and provider education also significantly improved testing outcomes compared with a comparator or control. Integrated care and patient navigation or care coordination significantly improved linkage to care and the uptake of direct-acting antiviral treatment compared with a comparator or control.

INTERPRETATION

Several interventions to improve HCV care that address several key barriers to HCV care were identified. New models of HCV care must be designed and implemented to address the barriers faced by the population of interest. Further high-quality research, including rigorously designed randomised studies, is still needed in key populations.

FUNDING

None.

Declining incidence of hepatitis C related hepatocellular carcinoma in the era of interferon-free therapies: A population-based cohort study

BACKGROUND & AIMS

The impact of interferon (IFN)-free therapies on the epidemiology of hepatitis C virus (HCV) related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is not well understood at a population level. Our goal was to bridge this evidence gap.

METHODS

This study included all patients in Scotland with chronic HCV and a diagnosis of cirrhosis during 1999-2019. Incident cases of HCC, episodes of curative HCC therapy, and HCC-related deaths were identified through linkage to nationwide registries. Three time periods were examined: 1999-2010 (pegylated interferon-ribavirin [PIR]); 2011-2013 (First-generation DAA); and 2014-2019 (IFN-free era). We used regression modelling to determine time trends for (i) number diagnosed and living with HCV cirrhosis, (ii) HCC cumulative incidence, (iii) HCC curative treatment uptake and (iv) post-HCC mortality.

RESULTS

3347 cirrhosis patients were identified of which 381 (11.4%) developed HCC. After HCC diagnosis, 140 (36.7%) received curative HCC treatment and there were 202 deaths from HCC. The average annual number of patients diagnosed and living with HCV cirrhosis was approximately seven times higher in the IFN-free versus the PIR era, whereas the number of incident HCCs was four times higher. However, the cumulative incidence of HCC was significantly lower in the IFN-free versus PIR era (sdHR: 0.65; 95%CI:0.47-0.88; P = .006). Among HCC patients, diagnosis in the IFN-free era was not associated with improved uptake of curative treatment (aOR:1.18; 95%CI:0.69-2.01; P = .54), or reduced post-HCC mortality (sdHR: 0.74; 95%CI:0.53-1.05; P = .09).

CONCLUSIONS

The cumulative incidence of HCC is declining in HCV cirrhosis patients, but uptake of curative HCC therapy and post-HCC survival remains suboptimal.

Breakthroughs in hepatitis C research: from discovery to cure

In the 1970s, an unknown virus was suspected for documented cases of transfusion-associated hepatitis, a phenomenon called non-A, non-B hepatitis. In 1989, the infectious transmissible agent was identified and named hepatitis C virus (HCV) and, soon enough, the first diagnostic HCV antibody test was developed, which led to a dramatic decrease in new infections. Today, HCV infection remains a global health burden and a major cause of liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and liver transplantation. However, tremendous advances have been made over the decades, and HCV became the first curable, chronic viral infection. The introduction of direct antiviral agents revolutionized antiviral treatment, leading to viral eradication in more than 98% of all patients infected with HCV. This Perspective discusses the history of HCV research, which reads like a role model for successful translational research: starting from a clinical observation, specific therapeutic agents were developed, which finally were implemented in national and global elimination programmes.

Uptake of interferon-free DAA therapy among HCV-infected decompensated cirrhosis patients and evidence for decreased mortality

Interferon-free DAA therapies have recently been licensed for patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) who have decompensated cirrhosis (DC). Our aim was to describe factors associated with uptake of IFN-free DAAs in DC patients and to compare mortality risk and hospital admission rates between pre-DAA and DAA eras. This observational study used record-linkage between Scotland's HCV Clinical Database and national inpatient hospitalization and mortality registers. For the DAA uptake analysis, the study population (n = 297) was restricted to patients alive on 1 November 2014, and Cox regression was used to estimate uptake associated with various covariates. For the Cox regression of mortality comparing pre-DAA and DAA eras, the study population (n = 624) comprised those diagnosed with DC in 2005-2018; follow-up was censored at two years. DAA uptake was 63% overall and was significantly higher for treatment-experienced patients (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 1.64, 95% CI:1.14-2.34), genotype 1 vs. other genotypes (aHR = 1.55. 95% CI:1.15-2.10) and lower for persons diagnosed with DC pre-2014 (0.47, 95% CI:0.33-0.68) and in Greater Glasgow (0.64, 95% CI:0.47-0.88). The intention-to-treat SVR rate was 89% (95% CI:83-93%). All-cause and liver-related mortality risk were significantly reduced among patients diagnosed with DC in the DAA era (November 2014-December 2018) compared with the pre-DAA era (2005-October 2014) (aHRs of 0.68, 95% CI:0.49-0.93; 0.69, 95% CI:0.50-0.95, respectively); in contrast, hospital admission rates were higher in the DAA era (aRR = 1.14, 95% CI:1.04-1.26). The majority of HCV-infected DC patients engaged with specialist services can be treated with IFN-free DAAs. Improved survival among patients diagnosed with DC in the DAA era supports the beneficial impact of IFN-free therapies among those with advanced liver disease.

Hepatitis C treatment as prevention in the prison setting: Assessments of acceptability of treatment scale up efforts by prison correctional and health personnel

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis C (HCV) infection is prevalent in the prison setting, with sharing of unsterile injecting equipment the most common mode of transmission in high income countries. Mathematical modelling suggests that HCV treatment scale-up could prevent onward transmission, known as treatment as prevention. Direct-acting antivirals have enabled rapid scale up of HCV treatment, underpinning the first clinical trial of treatment as prevention in the prison setting. The Surveillance and Treatment of Prisoners with hepatitis C (SToP-C) study was carried out in four correctional centres in New South Wales, Australia. This paper utilises Sekhon's Theoretical Framework of Acceptability to examine correctional, prison health, and study personnel's assessments of acceptability of HCV treatment as prevention in the prison setting.

METHODS

Correctional (n=24) and health personnel (n=17) including officers, nurses (including seven study nurses), and senior administrators across the four prisons where SToP-C was delivered, participated in interviews. This included two maximum security, one minimum security, and one women's medium/minimum security prison. Data analysis was informed by a seven-component theory of acceptability.

RESULTS

Participants reported broad acceptability of HCV treatment as prevention in the prison setting across five components of acceptability (affective attitude, burden, ethicality, perceived effectiveness, and self-efficacy). Attributes contributing to acceptability included reduced HCV prevalence within the prison, and public health benefits for the community when people are released without HCV (affective attitude). Elements which may negatively impact on acceptability included limited clinic space (burden) and lack of correctional officers' understanding of availability of equivalent healthcare in the community (ethicality). System-wide prison participation was viewed as necessary for treatment as prevention to be successful (perceived effectiveness), while nonjudgmental care was seen as instrumental to HCV treatment scale up efforts (self-efficacy).

CONCLUSION

Correctional and prison-based health personnel view HCV treatment as prevention as an acceptable health intervention. Overall, environmental issues relating to implementation (i.e., clinic space) were viewed as requiring a strategic approach to support prison-wide HCV treatment scale up.

Hepatitis C virus infection and risk of liver-related and non-liver-related deaths: a population-based cohort study in Naples, southern Italy

Background

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection represents a global health issue with severe implications on morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of HCV infection on all-cause, liver-related, and non-liver-related mortality in a population living in an area with a high prevalence of HCV infection before the advent of Direct-Acting Antiviral (DAA) therapies, and to identify factors associated with cause-specific mortality among HCV-infected individuals.

Methods

We conducted a cohort study on 4492 individuals enrolled between 2003 and 2006 in a population-based seroprevalence survey on viral hepatitis infections in the province of Naples, southern Italy. Study participants provided serum for antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV) and HCV RNA testing. Information on vital status to December 2017 and cause of death were retrieved through record-linkage with the mortality database. Hazard ratios (HRs) for cause-specific mortality and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using Fine-Grey regression models.

Results

Out of 626 deceased people, 20 (3.2%) died from non-natural causes, 56 (8.9%) from liver-related conditions, 550 (87.9%) from non-liver-related causes. Anti-HCV positive people were at higher risk of death from all causes (HR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.12–1.70) and liver-related causes (HR = 5.90, 95% CI: 3.00–11.59) than anti-HCV negative ones. Individuals with chronic HCV infection reported an elevated risk of death due to liver-related conditions (HR = 6.61, 95% CI: 3.29–13.27) and to any cause (HR = 1.51, 95% CI: 1.18–1.94). The death risk of anti-HCV seropositive people with negative HCV RNA was similar to that of anti-HCV seronegative ones. Among anti-HCV positive people, liver-related mortality was associated with a high FIB-4 index score (HR = 39.96, 95% CI: 4.73–337.54).

Conclusions

These findings show the detrimental impact of HCV infection on all-cause mortality and, particularly, liver-related mortality. This effect emerged among individuals with chronic infection while those with cleared infection had the same risk of uninfected ones. These results underline the need to identify through screening all people with chronic HCV infection notably in areas with a high prevalence of HCV infection, and promptly provide them with DAAs treatment to achieve progressive HCV elimination and reduce HCV-related mortality.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12879-021-06336-9.

Management and Treatment of Hepatitis C: Are There Still Unsolved Problems and Unique Populations?

Direct-acting antivirals (DAA) have revolutionized the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, possibly leading to HCV elimination by 2030 as endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO). However, some patients belonging to the so-called unique or special populations are referred to as difficult-to-treat due to unreached sustained virological response, potential drug side effects or interactions or co-morbidities. Several years after the DAA introduction and on the basis of excellent findings in terms of efficacy and safety, some doubts arise around the exact meaning of the special population designation and whether this group of patients actually exists. The aim of this review is to discuss and analyze current evidence on the management and treatment of the so-called "unique populations". We placed particular emphasis on patients with decompensated cirrhosis, chronic kidney disease (CKD), coinfections, rare genotypes, and previous treatment failure, in order to provide physicians with an updated overview of the actual problems and needs in the current scenario.

Hepatitis C-related cirrhosis will be a marginal cause of hospital admissions by 2025

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Complications of cirrhosis are the main cause of hospital admissions in liver units. In areas where HCV is prevalent, most of these admissions are attributable to HCV-related cirrhosis (HCV-cirrhosis). This study assessed the impact of direct-acting antivirals (DAA) in the profile of patients with liver disease admitted to a referral liver unit from a university hospital.

METHODS

We registered hospital admissions resulting from cirrhosis to the Liver Unit of the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, from 2011 to 2014 (pre-DAA period) and from 2015 to 2019 (post-DAA period).

RESULTS

From a total of 14,865 hospital admissions, 10,053 resulted from cirrhosis (corresponding to 6,272 patients). The number and proportion of hospital admissions because of HCV-cirrhosis remained stable during the period 2011-2014 (525 per year, 48.8% of the total), but decreased progressively after 2015 (p <0.001), reaching <300 (27.1%) admissions in 2019. Similarly, HCV-cirrhosis accounted for 3,885 inpatient days per year (44.9%) during the pre-DAA period and decreased steadily after 2015 (p >0.001), reaching only 1,909 inpatient days (22%) in 2019. The figures for intensive care unit admissions followed a similar pattern. By means of a slope analysis (binomial regression model), we predicted that HCV-cirrhosis hospital admissions will be residual by 2025 (2.3%, 95% CI 0-10.9%). By contrast, we observed a significant increase in hospital admissions because of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (5-fold) and autoimmune hepatitis (4-fold) during the study period.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, our data showed a profound reduction in HCV-cirrhosis hospitalisation burden since 2015, coincident with the wide use of DAAs in Spain. Our predictions suggest that, by 2025, HCV-cirrhosis will be a marginal cause of hospital admissions for patients with liver disease.

LAY SUMMARY

Over the past few years, the wide use of antiviral drugs that cure HCV has had a significant effect on patients being admitted to hospital. Most patients with HCV and cirrhosis are treated (and often cured) in the community and, thus, the number of hospital admissions because of severe forms of HCV has decreased drastically. HCV is no longer the first cause of admission into liver units and, in only a few years from now, it is likely to be only a residual cause of hospitalisation.