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Liu CH, Yu ML, Peng CY, Hsieh TY, Huang YH, Su WW, Cheng PN, Lin CL, Lo CC, Chen CY, Chen JJ, Ma Q, Brooks-Rooney C, Kao JH. Real-world anti-viral treatment decisions among chronic hepatitis C patients in Taiwan: The INITIATE study. J Formos Med Assoc 2018; 118:1014-1023. [PMID: 30448077 DOI: 10.1016/j.jfma.2018.10.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Revised: 08/27/2018] [Accepted: 10/30/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE While direct-acting antiviral regimens have been approved for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients in Taiwan, reimbursement is limited to certain populations. Thus, pegylated interferon plus ribavirin (PEG-IFN/RBV) remains the standard of care for many patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the percentage of CHC patients who were recommended and willing to receive PEG-IFN/RBV, and to identify reasons why patients were not recommended or unwilling to receive treatment. METHODS 822 Taiwanese CHC patients were enrolled from May-August 2016 in this cross-sectional study. PEG-IFN/RBV recommendation and patient willingness to receive treatment were evaluated through surveys. Patient characteristics associated with treatment recommendation and willingness were assessed. RESULTS 311 (37.8%) patients were recommended PEG-IFN/RBV while 102 (12.4%) were willing to follow treatment recommendation. Rates of recommendation and willingness were lower in treatment-experienced, hepatitis C virus genotype 1 (GT1) and cirrhotic patients, and those treated in Northern Taiwan. Multivariate analyses found factors such as prior treatment experience, GT1, cirrhosis and low hemoglobin levels to be associated with lower recommendation rates while advanced age, GT1 and low baseline viral loads were associated with lower willingness rates. Physicians' top reasons for not recommending PEG-IFN/RBV included the wish to wait for better treatment options (60.3%), prior treatment failure (21.3%) and patients' advanced age (20.9%). Patients were unwilling to receive treatment mainly due to concerns about side effects (91.4%), the wish to wait for better treatment options (71.3%) and inconvenience (25.4%). CONCLUSION A minority of Taiwanese CHC patients were recommended PEG-IFN/RBV, of which few were willing to receive treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen-Hua Liu
- National Taiwan University College of Medicine and Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Lung Yu
- Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; School of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Yuan Peng
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Tsai-Yuan Hsieh
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Centre, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Hsiang Huang
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Wen Su
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan
| | - Pin-Nan Cheng
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Lin Lin
- Department of Gastroenterology, Taipei City Hospital - Renai Branch, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Chu Lo
- Department of Internal Medicine, St. Martin De Porres Hospital - Daya, Chiayi, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Yi Chen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Chiayi Christian Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan
| | - Jyh-Jou Chen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Hospital, Liouying, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Qian Ma
- Costello Medical Singapore Pte Ltd, Singapore
| | | | - Jia-Horng Kao
- National Taiwan University College of Medicine and Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
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Vutien P, Jin M, Le MH, Nguyen P, Trinh S, Huang JF, Yu ML, Chuang WL, Nguyen MH. Regional differences in treatment rates for patients with chronic hepatitis C infection: Systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0183851. [PMID: 28877190 PMCID: PMC5587234 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0183851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2017] [Accepted: 08/12/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Treatment rates with interferon-based therapies for chronic hepatitis C have been low. Our aim was to perform a systematic review of available data to estimate the rates and barriers for antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C. METHODS We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis searching MEDLINE, SCOPUS through March 2016 and abstracts from recent major liver meetings for primary literature with available hepatitis C treatment rates. Random-effects models were used to estimate effect sizes and meta-regression to test for potential sources of heterogeneity. RESULTS We included 39 studies with 476,443 chronic hepatitis C patients. The overall treatment rate was 25.5% (CI: 21.1-30.5%) and by region 34% for Europe, 28.3% for Asia/Pacific, and 18.7% for North America (p = 0.008). On multivariable meta-regression, practice setting (tertiary vs. population-based, p = 0.04), region (Europe vs. North America p = 0.004), and data source (clinical chart review vs. administrative database, p = 0.025) remained significant predictors of heterogeneity. The overall treatment eligibility rate was 52.5%, and 60% of these received therapy. Of the patients who refused treatment, 16.2% cited side effects, 13.8% cited cost as reasons for treatment refusal, and 30% lacked access to specialist care. CONCLUSIONS Only one-quarter of chronic hepatitis C patients received antiviral therapy in the pre-direct acting antiviral era. Treatment rates should improve in the new interferon-free era but, cost, co-morbidities, and lack of specialist care will likely remain and need to be addressed. Linkage to care should even be of higher priority now that well-tolerated cure is available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Vutien
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, California, United States of America
- Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Michelle Jin
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, California, United States of America
| | - Michael H. Le
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, California, United States of America
| | - Pauline Nguyen
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, California, United States of America
| | - Sam Trinh
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, California, United States of America
| | - Jee-Fu Huang
- Hepatobiliary Section, Department of Internal Medicine and Hepatitis Center, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Lung Yu
- Hepatobiliary Section, Department of Internal Medicine and Hepatitis Center, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Wan-Long Chuang
- Hepatobiliary Section, Department of Internal Medicine and Hepatitis Center, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Mindie H. Nguyen
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, California, United States of America
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Noninvasive Assessment of Liver Fibrosis By Transient Elastography and FIB4/APRI for Prediction of Treatment Response in Chronic Hepatitis C-An Experience from a Tertiary Care Hospital. J Clin Exp Hepatol 2016; 6:282-290. [PMID: 28003717 PMCID: PMC5157918 DOI: 10.1016/j.jceh.2016.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2016] [Accepted: 08/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liver fibrosis and its sequel cirrhosis represent a major health care burden, and assessment of fibrosis by biopsy is gradually being replaced by noninvasive methods. In clinical practice, the determination of fibrosis stage is important, since patients with advanced fibrosis have faster progression to cirrhosis and antiviral therapy is indicated in these patients. AIMS To assess the role of transient elastography (TE) and compare it with APRI and FIB4 for predicting liver fibrosis and assessing the effect of host and viral factors on fibrosis and treatment outcome in CHC patients. METHODS In a retrospective analysis, 330 CHC patients underwent liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by TE and tests needed for calculating APRI and FIB4 scores at baseline. 228 patients received a combination of Pegylated IFN-based antiviral therapy and were analyzed for therapeutic response. RESULTS The study included 330 patients (median age 39 years [range 18-67]), predominantly males (n = 227, 68.8%) with baseline LSMs. The median liver stiffness was 7.8 kPa (range 3.2-69.1 kPa). LSMs and its thresholds for severe fibrosis progression (≥9.5 kPa) and cirrhosis (≥12.5 kPa) were significantly higher in patients with age ≥40 years, diabetes mellitus, and patients with significant alcohol intake (P = 0.003 to P < 0.001). By taking TE as a reference, the diagnostic accuracy of FIB4 scores for predicting cirrhosis (AUROC 0.896) was good (+LR 13.4) compared to APRI (AUROC 0.823) with moderate likelihood ratio (+LR 6.9). Among 228 treated patients the SVR rate in genotype 3 was 70% versus 57.8% in genotype 1. Fibrosis score F4 (P = 0.023) and HCV genotype (P = 0.008) were independent predictors of SVR. CONCLUSION The study shows that LSM by TE and fibrosis assessment by FIB4/APRI scores can be used with fair reliability to predict fibrosis and treatment response in patients with CHC infection.
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Key Words
- ALT, alanine transaminases
- APRI, AST to Platelet ratio index
- AST, aspartate transaminases
- BMI, body mass index
- CHB, chronic hepatitis B
- CLD, chronic liver disease
- DM, diabetes mellitus
- ETR, end of treatment response
- EVR, early virological response
- FIB4, fibrosis-4 score
- HCV, hepatitis C
- IQR/M, interquartile range/median
- LB, liver biopsy
- LF, liver fibrosis
- LSM, liver stiffness measurement
- NPV, negative predictive value
- PEG INF, Pegylated Interferon
- PPV, positive predictive value
- RBV, Ribavarin
- RGT, response guided treatment
- ROC, receiver operating characteristic
- RVR, rapid virological response
- SVR, sustained virological response
- TE, transient elastography
- chronic hepatitis C
- kPa, kilopascals
- liver biopsy
- liver fibrosis
- noninvasive markers
- transient elastography
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Leroy V, Angus P, Bronowicki J, Dore GJ, Hezode C, Pianko S, Pol S, Stuart K, Tse E, McPhee F, Bhore R, Jimenez‐Exposito MJ, Thompson AJ. Daclatasvir, sofosbuvir, and ribavirin for hepatitis C virus genotype 3 and advanced liver disease: A randomized phase III study (ALLY-3+). Hepatology 2016; 63:1430-41. [PMID: 26822022 PMCID: PMC5069621 DOI: 10.1002/hep.28473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 204] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2015] [Revised: 01/20/2016] [Accepted: 01/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 3 infection, especially those with advanced liver disease, are a challenging population in urgent need of optimally effective therapies. The combination of daclatasvir (DCV; pangenotypic nonstructural protein 5A inhibitor) and sofosbuvir (SOF; nucleotide nonstructural protein 5B inhibitor) for 12 weeks previously showed high efficacy (96%) in noncirrhotic genotype 3 infection. The phase III ALLY-3+ study (N = 50) evaluated DCV-SOF with ribavirin (RBV) in treatment-naïve (n = 13) or treatment-experienced (n = 37) genotype 3-infected patients with advanced fibrosis (n = 14) or compensated cirrhosis (n = 36). Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive open-label DCV-SOF (60 + 400 mg daily) with weight-based RBV for 12 or 16 weeks. The primary endpoint was sustained virological response at post-treatment week 12 (SVR12). SVR12 (intention-to-treat) was 90% overall (45 of 50): 88% (21 of 24) in the 12-week (91% observed) and 92% (24 of 26) in the 16-week group. All patients with advanced fibrosis achieved SVR12. SVR12 in patients with cirrhosis was 86% overall (31 of 36): 83% (15 of 18) in the 12-week (88% observed) and 89% (16 of 18) in the 16-week group; for treatment-experienced patients with cirrhosis, these values were 87% (26 of 30), 88% (14 of 16; 93% observed), and 86% (12 of 14), respectively. One patient (12-week group) did not enter post-treatment follow-up (death unrelated to treatment). There were 4 relapses (2 per group) and no virological breakthroughs. The most common adverse events (AEs) were insomnia, fatigue, and headache. There were no discontinuations for AEs and no treatment-related serious AEs. CONCLUSION The all-oral regimen of DCV-SOF-RBV was well tolerated and resulted in high and similar SVR12 after 12 or 16 weeks of treatment among genotype 3-infected patients with advanced liver disease, irrespective of past HCV treatment experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Leroy
- Clinique Universitaire d'Hepato‐Gastroentérologie, Pôle DigiduneCHU de Grenoble and Unité INSERM/Université Grenoble Alpes U823, IAPC Institut Albert BonniotGrenobleFrance
| | | | | | - Gregory J. Dore
- St. Vincent's Hospital and Kirby InstituteUNSW AustraliaSydneyAustralia
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Fiona McPhee
- Bristol‐Myers Squibb Research & DevelopmentWallingfordCT
| | - Rafia Bhore
- Bristol‐Myers Squibb Research & DevelopmentPrincetonNJ
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