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Brzdęk M, Zarębska-Michaluk D, Tomasiewicz K, Tudrujek-Zdunek M, Lorenc B, Mazur W, Berak H, Janocha-Litwin J, Klapaczyński J, Sitko M, Janczewska E, Dybowska D, Parfieniuk-Kowerda A, Piekarska A, Jaroszewicz J, Flisiak R. Effectiveness and safety of direct-acting antivirals in the therapy of HCV-infected elderly people. Minerva Med 2024; 115:266-276. [PMID: 38591836 DOI: 10.23736/s0026-4806.24.09238-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The introduction of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) with their effectiveness and safety has revolutionized the approach to treating hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. Nevertheless, elderly patients have often been excluded from clinical trials, so the results of real-world studies are particularly important in the context of the geriatric population. The study aimed to analyze the effectiveness and safety of antiviral DAA treatment in HCV-infected patients over the age of 65, with notable inclusion of those over the age of 85. METHODS The analyzed patients were divided by age into three groups: group A (65-74 years), group B (75-84 years) and group C (85 years or older). Patients started DAA based therapy at 22 hepatology centers between July 2015 and December 2022. RESULTS A total of 3505 elderly patients were included in the analysis, and this group consisted of 2501 patients in group A, 893 in group B, and 111 in group C. The study population, regardless of age, was dominated by women. Patients had a high prevalence of comorbidities (84.9%, 92.2%, and 93.7%, respectively) as well as a high rate of concomitant medications. The sustained virological response was 97.9% in groups A and B and 100% in group C. The therapy was well-tolerated, with a comparable safety profile observed in all analyzed groups. CONCLUSIONS DAA-based therapies are highly effective and well tolerated by the elderly patients, including those over 85. Age should not be a barrier to treatment, but careful management is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michał Brzdęk
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Allergology, Jan Kochanowski University, Kielce, Poland -
| | | | | | | | - Beata Lorenc
- Pomeranian Center of Infectious Diseases, Medical University Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Włodzimierz Mazur
- Clinical Department of Infectious Diseases, Clinical University of Silesia in Katowice, Chorzów, Poland
| | - Hanna Berak
- Daily Department, Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Justyna Janocha-Litwin
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Jakub Klapaczyński
- Department of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, The National Institute of Medicine of the Ministry of Interior and Administration, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Marek Sitko
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Ewa Janczewska
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Public Health in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Bytom, Poland
| | - Dorota Dybowska
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Faculty of Medicine, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Anna Parfieniuk-Kowerda
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland
| | - Anna Piekarska
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Jerzy Jaroszewicz
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Bytom, Poland
| | - Robert Flisiak
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland
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DiLeo DA, Gidener T, Aytaman A. Chronic Liver Disease in the Older Patient-Evaluation and Management. Curr Gastroenterol Rep 2023; 25:390-400. [PMID: 37991713 DOI: 10.1007/s11894-023-00908-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW As our population ages, the number of elderly patients with advanced chronic liver disease (ACLD) will increase. In this review we explore risk factors for liver injury, noninvasive assessment of liver disease, complications of cirrhosis, and management of frailty and sarcopenia in the older patient with ACLD. RECENT FINDINGS Multiple guidelines regarding ACLD have been updated over the past few years. New cutoffs for FIB-4 and NAFLD (MASLD - Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Steatotic Liver Disease) fibrosis scores for elderly patients are being validated. Older patients with MASLD benefit from caloric restriction, exercise programs, and GLP-1 agonists. Patients with ACLD need to be screened for alcohol use disorder with modified scoring systems, and if positive, benefit from referral to chemical dependency programs. Carvedilol and diuretics may safely be used in the elderly for portal hypertension and ascites, respectively, with careful monitoring. Malnutrition, frailty, sarcopenia, and bone mineral disease are common in older patients with ACLD, and early intervention may improve outcomes. Early identification of ACLD in elderly patients allows us to manage risk factors for liver injury, screen for complications, and implement lifestyle and pharmacological therapy to reduce decompensation and death. Future studies may clarify the role of noninvasive imaging in assessing liver fibrosis in the elderly and optimal interventions for nutrition, frailty, sarcopenia, bone health in addition to reevaluation of antibiotic prophylaxis for liver conditions with rising antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Anthony DiLeo
- Department of Gastroenterology, Brooklyn Campus of the Veterans Affairs New York Harbor Healthcare System, 800 Poly Pl, Brooklyn, NY, 11209, USA.
| | - Tolga Gidener
- Department of Medicine, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, 11203, USA
| | - Ayse Aytaman
- Department of Gastroenterology, Brooklyn Campus of the Veterans Affairs New York Harbor Healthcare System, 800 Poly Pl, Brooklyn, NY, 11209, USA
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Ghebremeskel GG, Berhe Solomon M, Achila OO, Mengistu ST, Asmelash RF, Berhane Mesfin A, Hamida ME. Real-world treatment outcome of direct-acting antivirals and patient survival rates in chronic hepatitis C virus infection in Eritrea. Sci Rep 2023; 13:20792. [PMID: 38012181 PMCID: PMC10682448 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47258-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Reliable real-world data on direct acting anti-retroviral (DAA) uptake and treatment outcomes are lacking for patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) in sub-Saharan Africa. This study provides data on HCV DAA-based treatment outcomes, mortality, loss-to-follow up, and associated factors among patients in Eritrea. A multicenter retrospective observational cohort study was conducted in two tertiary hospitals in Asmara, Eritrea. A structured checklist was used to collect data from patient's cards. Descriptive and inferential statistics used included means (± Standard deviation (SD), medians (Interquartile range (IQR), chi-squire (χ2), Kaplan-Meier estimates, and multivariate Cox proportional hazard models. A total of 238 patients with median age of 59 years (IQR 50-69 years) were enrolled in the study. Out of the 227 patients initiated on treatment, 125 patients had viral load measurements at 12 weeks after end of treatment (EOT) whereas 102 patients had no viral load measurements at 12 weeks EOT. Among the patients with HCV RNA data post-EOT 12, 116 (92.8%) had sustained viral response (SVR). The prevalence of death and loss-to-follow up (LTFU) were (7.5%, 95% CI 1.7-4.1) and 67 (28.1%, 95% CI 22.3-33.9) translating into an incidence of 1.1 (95% CI 0.8-1.5) per 10,000 person days. Independent predictors of LTFU included the enrollment year (2020: aHR = 2.2, 95% CI 1-4.7; p value = 0.04); Hospital (Hospital B: aHR = 2.2, 95% CI 1-4.7; p value = 0.03) and the FIB-4 score (FIB-Score < 1.45: aHR = 3.7, 95% CI 1.2-11.5; p value = 0.02). The SVR rates achieved in this cohort were high. However, high LTFU and high mortality driven largely by late presentation and suboptimal population screening/case finding, were uncovered. These challenges can be addressed by test-and-treat programs that simultaneously prioritize programmatic screening, decentralization of care, and better patient tracking in the HCV care cascade.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Oliver Okoth Achila
- Unit of Clinical Laboratory Science, Orotta College of Medicine and Health Sciences (OCMHS), Asmara, Eritrea
| | | | | | - Araia Berhane Mesfin
- National Communicable Disease Control Division, Ministry of Health, Asmara, Eritrea
| | - Mohammed Elfatih Hamida
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Orotta College of Medicine and Health Sciences (OCMHS), Asmara, Eritrea
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Kikuchi M, Sawabe M, Aoyagi H, Wakae K, Watashi K, Hattori S, Kawabe N, Yoshioka K, Tanaka J, Muramatsu M, Wakita T, Aizaki H. Development of an intervention system for linkage-to-care and follow-up for hepatitis B and C virus carriers. Hepatol Int 2021; 16:68-80. [PMID: 34855104 PMCID: PMC8636575 DOI: 10.1007/s12072-021-10269-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Background Poor connections in the cascade of viral hepatitis care have been discussed around the world. In 2011 in Japan, 500,000 to 1.25 million hepatitis B and C virus carriers needed to consult with hepatologists, so linkage-to-care (LTC) needs to be promoted. Therefore, in this study, to improve LTC and care-seeking behaviors, we attempted to establish a community-based intervention system and evaluate its effectiveness by analyzing behavior modifications. Methods In a model city, Okazaki (population: 387,887 as of 2019), LTC was encouraged among HBV and HCV carriers by annually mailed brochures, and their care-seeking behaviors were followed up through questionnaires for 8 years (2012–2019). Their behavior modifications and demographic characteristics were analyzed anonymously in cooperation with community health workers, hepatologists, and researchers. Results Through regional HBsAg and anti-HCV screening, 333 HBV and 208 HCV carriers were identified. Before the intervention, only 34.7% (25/72) of HBV- and 34.3% (24/70) of HCV-positive individuals had consulted with hepatologists. However, in 2019, after the intervention, these proportions increased to 79.8% (91/114) and 91.2% (52/57), respectively. Access to outpatient care and treatment uptake also continuously improved. However, individuals over 70 years of age were significantly less likely to engage in care-seeking behaviors (p < 0.05), and significantly fewer HCV-positive females received treatment (p = 0.03). Conclusions A paper-based reiterative intervention encouraging LTC and follow-up successfully improved the care-seeking behaviors of hepatitis virus-positive individuals and enabled their behavior modifications to be monitored. Further trials are required to advance the system by age- and gender-specific interventions. Graphical Abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12072-021-10269-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minami Kikuchi
- Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 162-8640, Japan.,Department of Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo, Tokyo, 113-8519, Japan
| | - Motoji Sawabe
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo, Tokyo, 113-8519, Japan
| | - Haruyo Aoyagi
- Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 162-8640, Japan
| | - Kosho Wakae
- Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 162-8640, Japan
| | - Koichi Watashi
- Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 162-8640, Japan.,Research Center for Drug and Vaccine Development, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 162-8640, Japan
| | - Satoru Hattori
- Okazaki City Public Health Center, 2-1-1 Wakamiya, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8545, Japan
| | - Naoto Kawabe
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, School of Medicine, Fujita Health University, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake, Toyoake, Aichi, 470-1192, Japan
| | - Kentaro Yoshioka
- Center for Liver Diseases, Meijo Hospital, 1-3-1 Sannomaru, Naka, Nagoya, Aichi, 460-0001, Japan
| | - Junko Tanaka
- Department of Epidemiology, Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami, Hiroshima, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan
| | - Masamichi Muramatsu
- Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 162-8640, Japan
| | - Takaji Wakita
- Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 162-8640, Japan
| | - Hideki Aizaki
- Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 162-8640, Japan.
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