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Gliddon HD, Ward Z, Heinsbroek E, Croxford S, Edmundson C, Hope VD, Simmons R, Mitchell H, Hickman M, Vickerman P, Stone J. Has the HCV cascade of care changed among people who inject drugs in England since the introduction of direct-acting antivirals? THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2024:104324. [PMID: 38218700 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In England, over 80 % of those with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection have injected drugs. We quantified the HCV cascade of care (CoC) among people who inject drugs (PWID) in England and determined whether this improved after direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) were introduced. METHODS We analysed data from nine rounds of national annual cross-sectional surveys of PWID recruited from drug services (2011-2019; N = 12,320). Study rounds were grouped as: 'Pre-DAAs' (2011-2014), 'Prioritised DAAs' (2015-2016) and 'Unrestricted DAAs' (2017-2019). Participants were anonymously tested for HCV antibodies and RNA and completed a short survey. We assessed the proportion of PWID recently (current/previous year) tested for HCV. For participants ever HCV treatment eligible (past chronic infection with history of treatment or current chronic infection), we assessed the CoC as: HCV testing (ever), received a positive test result, seen a specialist nurse/doctor, and ever treated. We used logistic regression to determine if individuals progressed through the CoC differently depending on time-period, whether time-period was associated with recent testing (all participants) and lifetime HCV treatment (ever eligible participants), and predictors of HCV testing and treatment in the Unrestricted DAAs period. RESULTS The proportion of ever HCV treatment eligible PWID reporting lifetime HCV treatment increased from 12.5 % in the Pre-DAAs period to 25.6 % in the Unrestricted DAAs period (aOR:2.40, 95 %CI:1.95-2.96). There were also increases in seeing a specialist nurse/doctor. The largest loss in the CoC was at treatment for all time periods. During the Unrestricted DAAs period, recent (past year) homelessness (vs never, aOR:0.66, 95 %CI:0.45-0.97), duration of injecting (≤3 years vs >3 years; aOR:0.26, 95 %CI:0.12-0.60), never (vs current, aOR:0.31, 95 %CI:0.13-0.75) or previously being prescribed OAT (vs current, aOR:0.67, 95 %CI:0.47-0.95), and never using a NSP (vs past year, aOR:0.27, 95 %CI:0.08-0.89) were negatively associated with lifetime HCV treatment. The proportion of PWID reporting recent HCV testing was higher during Unrestricted DAAs (56 %) compared to Pre-DAAs (48 %; aOR:1.28, 95 %CI:1.06-1.54). CONCLUSION COC stages from seeing a specialist onwards improved after DAAs became widely available. Further improvements in HCV testing are needed to eliminate HCV in England.
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Affiliation(s)
- H D Gliddon
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom; National Public Health Specialty Training Programme, South West, United Kingdom
| | - Z Ward
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom; NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Behavioural Science and Evaluation at University of Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - E Heinsbroek
- Blood Safety, Hepatitis, Sexually Transmitted Infections and HIV Service, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom
| | - S Croxford
- National Public Health Speciality Training Programme, West Midlands, United Kingdom
| | - C Edmundson
- Blood Safety, Hepatitis, Sexually Transmitted Infections and HIV Service, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom
| | - V D Hope
- Public Health Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - R Simmons
- Blood Safety, Hepatitis, Sexually Transmitted Infections and HIV Service, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom
| | - H Mitchell
- Blood Safety, Hepatitis, Sexually Transmitted Infections and HIV Service, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom
| | - M Hickman
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom; NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Behavioural Science and Evaluation at University of Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - P Vickerman
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom; NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Behavioural Science and Evaluation at University of Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - J Stone
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom; NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Behavioural Science and Evaluation at University of Bristol, United Kingdom.
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Artenie A, Stone J, Fraser H, Stewart D, Arum C, Lim AG, McNaughton AL, Trickey A, Ward Z, Abramovitz D, Alary M, Astemborski J, Bruneau J, Clipman SJ, Coffin CS, Croxford S, DeBeck K, Emanuel E, Hayashi K, Hermez JG, Low-Beer D, Luhmann N, Macphail G, Maher L, Palmateer NE, Patel EU, Sacks-Davis R, Van Den Boom W, van Santen DK, Walker JG, Hickman M, Vickerman P. Incidence of HIV and hepatitis C virus among people who inject drugs, and associations with age and sex or gender: a global systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 8:533-552. [PMID: 36996853 PMCID: PMC10817215 DOI: 10.1016/s2468-1253(23)00018-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Measuring the incidence of HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among people who inject drugs (PWID) is key to track progress towards elimination. We aimed to summarise global data on HIV and primary HCV incidence among PWID and associations with age and sex or gender. METHODS In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we updated an existing database of HIV and HCV incidence studies among PWID by searching MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycINFO, capturing studies published between Jan 1, 2000, and Dec 12, 2022, with no language or study design restrictions. We contacted authors of identified studies for unpublished or updated data. We included studies that estimated incidence by longitudinally re-testing people at risk of infection or by using assays for recent infection. We pooled incidence and relative risk (RR; young [generally defined as ≤25 years] vs older PWID; women vs men) estimates using random-effects meta-analysis and assessed risk of bias with a modified Newcastle-Ottawa scale. This study is registered with PROSPERO, CRD42020220884. FINDINGS Our updated search identified 9493 publications, of which 211 were eligible for full-text review. An additional 377 full-text records from our existing database and five records identified through cross-referencing were assessed. Including 28 unpublished records, 125 records met the inclusion criteria. We identified 64 estimates of HIV incidence (30 from high-income countries [HICs] and 34 from low-income or middle-income countries [LMICs]) and 66 estimates of HCV incidence (52 from HICs and 14 from LMICs). 41 (64%) of 64 HIV and 42 (64%) of 66 HCV estimates were from single cities rather than being multi-city or nationwide. Estimates were measured over 1987-2021 for HIV and 1992-2021 for HCV. Pooled HIV incidence was 1·7 per 100 person-years (95% CI 1·3-2·3; I2=98·4%) and pooled HCV incidence was 12·1 per 100 person-years (10·0-14·6; I2=97·2%). Young PWID had a greater risk of HIV (RR 1·5, 95% CI 1·2-1·8; I2=66·9%) and HCV (1·5, 1·3-1·8; I2=70·6%) acquisition than older PWID. Women had a greater risk of HIV (RR 1·4, 95% CI 1·1-1·6; I2=55·3%) and HCV (1·2, 1·1-1·3; I2=43·3%) acquisition than men. For both HIV and HCV, the median risk-of-bias score was 6 (IQR 6-7), indicating moderate risk. INTERPRETATION Although sparse, available HIV and HCV incidence estimates offer insights into global levels of HIV and HCV transmission among PWID. Intensified efforts are needed to keep track of the HIV and HCV epidemics among PWID and to expand access to age-appropriate and gender-appropriate prevention services that serve young PWID and women who inject drugs. FUNDING Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Fonds de recherche du Québec-Santé, Canadian Network on Hepatitis C, UK National Institute for Health and Care Research, and WHO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adelina Artenie
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK; National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Behavioural Science and Evaluation, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
| | - Jack Stone
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK; National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Behavioural Science and Evaluation, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Hannah Fraser
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK; National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Behavioural Science and Evaluation, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Daniel Stewart
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK; National Public Health Speciality Training Programme, South West, Bristol, UK
| | - Chiedozie Arum
- Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Aaron G Lim
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK; National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Behavioural Science and Evaluation, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Anna L McNaughton
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK; National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Behavioural Science and Evaluation, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Adam Trickey
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK; National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Behavioural Science and Evaluation, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Zoe Ward
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK; National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Behavioural Science and Evaluation, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | | | - Michel Alary
- Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada; Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada; Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Québec City, QC, Canada
| | - Jacquie Astemborski
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Julie Bruneau
- Département de Médecine Familiale et Médecine d'Urgence, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada; Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal Research Center, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Steven J Clipman
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Carla S Coffin
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Sara Croxford
- Public Health and Clinical Directorate, UK Health Security Agency, London, UK
| | - Kora DeBeck
- School of Public Policy, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC, Canada; BC Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Eva Emanuel
- Blood Safety, Hepatitis, STI and HIV Division, UK Health Security Agency, London, UK
| | - Kanna Hayashi
- BC Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Joumana G Hermez
- Department of Communicable Diseases, World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Daniel Low-Beer
- Global HIV, Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections Programmes, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Niklas Luhmann
- Global HIV, Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections Programmes, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Gisela Macphail
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Infectious Diseases, CUPS Liver Clinic, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Lisa Maher
- Kirby Institute for Infection and Immunity, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Norah E Palmateer
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK; Public Health Scotland, Glasgow, UK
| | - Eshan U Patel
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Rachel Sacks-Davis
- Disease Elimination Program, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Daniela K van Santen
- Disease Elimination Program, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Infectious Diseases, Public Health Service of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Josephine G Walker
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Matthew Hickman
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK; National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Behavioural Science and Evaluation, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Peter Vickerman
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK; National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Behavioural Science and Evaluation, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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Huang MH, Sun HY, Ho SY, Chang SY, Hsieh SM, Sheng WH, Chuang YC, Huang YS, Su LH, Liu WC, Su YC, Hung CC. Recently acquired hepatitis C virus infection among people living with human immunodeficiency virus at a university hospital in Taiwan. World J Gastroenterol 2021; 27:6277-6289. [PMID: 34712032 PMCID: PMC8515799 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v27.i37.6277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Little is known about the engagement in hepatitis C virus (HCV) care and completion of HCV treatment in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (PLWH) who have HCV coinfection in the Asia-Pacific region. Examining the HCV care cascade can identify barriers to the completion of HCV treatment and facilitate achievement of HCV micro-elimination in PLWH.
AIM To investigate the care cascade of incident HCV infections among PLWH in Taiwan.
METHODS PLWH with incident HCV infections, defined as HCV seroconversion, were retrospectively identified by sequential anti-HCV testing of all archived blood samples at National Taiwan University Hospital between 2011 and 2018. All PLWH with incident HCV infections were followed until December 31, 2019. The care cascade of HCV examined included all incident HCV-infected patients, the percentages of anti-HCV antibodies detected by HIV-treating physicians in clinical care, plasma HCV RNA load tested, HCV RNA positivity diagnosed, referral to treatment assessment made, anti-HCV treatment initiated, and sustained virologic response achieved. Those who had HCV seroconversion during the interferon (IFN) era (2011–2016) and the direct-acting antiviral (DAA) era (2017–2018) were analyzed separately. The duration of HCV viremia—from the date of seroconversion to viral clearance by treatments or until the end of observation—and the incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) during the HCV viremic period were estimated.
RESULTS During the study period, 287 of 3495 (8.2%) PLWH (92.3% being men who have sex with men) who were HCV-seronegative at baseline developed HCV seroconversion by retrospective testing of all archived blood samples. Of the 287 incident HCV infections, 277 (96.5%) had anti-HCV antibodies detected by HIV-treating physicians, 270 (94.1%) had plasma HCV RNA determined and 251 (87.5%) tested positive for HCV RNA. Of those with HCV viremia, 226 (78.7%) were referred to treatment assessment, 215 (74.9%) initiated anti-HCV treatment, and 202 (70.4%) achieved viral clearance. Compared with that in the IFN era, the median interval from HCV seroconversion by retrospective testing to detection of HCV seropositivity by HIV-treating physicians was significantly shorter in the DAA era {179 d [interquartile range (IQR) 87-434] vs 92 d (IQR 57-173); P < 0.001}. The incidence rate of STIs in the DAA vs the IFN era was 50.5 per 100 person-years of follow-up (PYFU) and 38.5 per 100 PYFU, respectively, with an incidence rate ratio of 1.31 (95% confidence interval 0.96-1.77), while the duration of HCV viremia was 380 d (IQR 274-554) and 735 d (IQR 391-1447) (P < 0.001), respectively.
CONCLUSION While anti-HCV therapies are effective in achieving viral clearance, our study suggests more efforts are needed to expedite the linkage of PLWH diagnosed with incident HCV infections to HCV treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao-Hui Huang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation and Tzu Chi University, Hualien 970410, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Yun Sun
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100008, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Yuan Ho
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100008, Taiwan
| | - Sui-Yuan Chang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100008, Taiwan
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100233, Taiwan
| | - Szu-Min Hsieh
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100008, Taiwan
| | - Wang-Huei Sheng
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100008, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chung Chuang
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100008, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Shan Huang
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100008, Taiwan
| | - Li-Hsin Su
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100008, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Chun Liu
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100008, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ching Su
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100008, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Ching Hung
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100008, Taiwan
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100233, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital and China Medical University, Taichung 404394, Taiwan
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