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Ryan H, Dore GJ, Grebely J, Byrne M, Cunningham EB, Martinello M, Lloyd AR, Hajarizadeh B. Hepatitis C treatment outcome among people in prison: The SToP-C study. Liver Int 2024. [PMID: 39192724 DOI: 10.1111/liv.16074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Hepatitis C virus (HCV) burden is higher among people in prison given high prevalence of injecting drug use. This study evaluated direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment outcome in prisons. METHODS The Surveillance and Treatment of Prisoners with hepatitis C (SToP-C) study enrolled individuals incarcerated in four Australian prisons (2017-2019). Participants with detectable HCV RNA were offered sofosbuvir-velpatasvir for 12 weeks. Sustained virological response (SVR) was assessed in intention-to-treat (ITT; participants commencing treatment and due for SVR assessment before study close) and per-protocol (PP; participants with documented treatment completion and SVR assessment) populations. RESULTS Among 799 participants with HCV, 324 (41%) commenced treatment (94% male; median age, 32 years; median duration of incarceration, 9 months). In ITT population (n = 310), 201 had documented treatment completion (65% [95% CI: 59-70]), and 137 achieved SVR (ITT-SVR: 44% [95% CI: 39-50]). In PP population (n = 143), 137 achieved SVR (PP-SVR: 96% [95% CI: 91-98]). Six participants had quantifiable HCV RNA at SVR assessment from treatment failure (n = 2) or reinfection (n = 4). Release or inter-prison transfer was common reasons for no documented treatment completion (n = 106/109 [97%]) and no SVR assessment (n = 57/58 [98%]). In ITT analysis, longer incarceration was associated with increased SVR (adjusted OR per month 1.03 [95% CI: 1.01-1.04]). CONCLUSION Among participants who completed DAA treatment and were assessed for SVR, treatment outcome was consistent with non-prison clinical studies. However, most individuals did not complete treatment or lacked study-documented treatment outcome due to release or transfer. Strategies to accommodate dynamic prisoner populations are required to ensure continuity of HCV care, including treatment completion and post-treatment care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Ryan
- The Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Gregory J Dore
- The Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jason Grebely
- The Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Marianne Byrne
- The Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Evan B Cunningham
- The Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - Andrew R Lloyd
- The Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Papaluca T, Craigie A, McDonald L, Edwards A, Winter R, Hoang A, Pappas A, Waldron A, McCoy K, Stoove M, Doyle J, Hellard M, Holmes J, MacIsaac M, Desmond P, Iser D, Thompson A. Care navigation increases initiation of hepatitis C treatment following release from prison in a prospective randomised controlled trial: The C-LINK Study. Open Forum Infect Dis 2022; 9:ofac350. [PMID: 35949401 PMCID: PMC9356682 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofac350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Prison-based hepatitis C treatment is safe and effective; however, many individuals are released untreated due to time or resource constraints. On community re-entry, individuals face a number of immediate competing priorities, and in this context, linkage to hepatitis C care is low. Interventions targeted at improving healthcare continuity after prison release have yielded positive outcomes for other health diagnoses; however, data regarding hepatitis C transitional care are limited. Methods We conducted a prospective randomized controlled trial comparing a hepatitis C care navigator intervention with standard of care for individuals released from prison with untreated hepatitis C infection. The primary outcome was prescription of hepatitis C direct-acting antivirals (DAA) within 6 months of release. Results Forty-six participants were randomized. The median age was 36 years and 59% were male. Ninety percent (n = 36 of 40) had injected drugs within 6 months before incarceration. Twenty-two were randomized to care navigation and 24 were randomized to standard of care. Individuals randomized to the intervention were more likely to commence hepatitis C DAAs within 6 months of release (73%, n = 16 of 22 vs 33% n = 8 of 24, P < .01), and the median time between re-entry and DAA prescription was significantly shorter (21 days [interquartile range {IQR}, 11–42] vs 82 days [IQR, 44–99], P = .049). Conclusions Care navigation increased hepatitis C treatment uptake among untreated individuals released from prison. Public policy should support similar models of care to promote treatment in this high-risk population. Such an approach will help achieve hepatitis C elimination as a public health threat.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Papaluca
- Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent’s Hospital and the University of Melbourne , Victoria , Australia
| | - A Craigie
- Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent’s Hospital and the University of Melbourne , Victoria , Australia
| | - L McDonald
- Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent’s Hospital and the University of Melbourne , Victoria , Australia
| | - A Edwards
- Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent’s Hospital and the University of Melbourne , Victoria , Australia
| | - R Winter
- Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent’s Hospital and the University of Melbourne , Victoria , Australia
- Burnet Institute , Melbourne, Victoria , Australia
| | - A Hoang
- Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent’s Hospital and the University of Melbourne , Victoria , Australia
| | - A Pappas
- Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent’s Hospital and the University of Melbourne , Victoria , Australia
| | - A Waldron
- Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent’s Hospital and the University of Melbourne , Victoria , Australia
| | - K McCoy
- Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent’s Hospital and the University of Melbourne , Victoria , Australia
| | - M Stoove
- Burnet Institute , Melbourne, Victoria , Australia
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventative Medicine, Monash University , Victoria , Australia
| | - J Doyle
- Burnet Institute , Melbourne, Victoria , Australia
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventative Medicine, Monash University , Victoria , Australia
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Alfred and Monash University , Melbourne, Victoria , Australia
| | - M Hellard
- Burnet Institute , Melbourne, Victoria , Australia
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventative Medicine, Monash University , Victoria , Australia
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Alfred and Monash University , Melbourne, Victoria , Australia
| | - J Holmes
- Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent’s Hospital and the University of Melbourne , Victoria , Australia
| | - M MacIsaac
- Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent’s Hospital and the University of Melbourne , Victoria , Australia
| | - P Desmond
- Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent’s Hospital and the University of Melbourne , Victoria , Australia
| | - D Iser
- Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent’s Hospital and the University of Melbourne , Victoria , Australia
| | - A Thompson
- Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent’s Hospital and the University of Melbourne , Victoria , Australia
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Winter RJ, Holmes JA, Papaluca TJ, Thompson AJ. The Importance of Prisons in Achieving Hepatitis C Elimination: Insights from the Australian Experience. Viruses 2022; 14:497. [PMID: 35336905 PMCID: PMC8949789 DOI: 10.3390/v14030497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Following the availability of highly effective direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) to treat hepatitis C infection, the uptake of treatment by people living with hepatitis C rose dramatically in high- and middle-income countries but has since declined. To achieve the World Health Organization's (WHO) 2030 target to eliminate hepatitis C as a public health threat among people who inject drugs, an increase in testing and treatment is required, together with improved coverage of harm reduction interventions. The population that remains to be treated in high- and middle-income countries with high hepatitis C prevalence are among the most socially disadvantaged, including people who inject drugs and are involved in the criminal justice system, a group with disproportionate hepatitis C prevalence, compared with people in the wider community. Imprisonment provides an unrivalled opportunity for screening and treating large numbers of people for hepatitis C, who may not access mainstream health services in the community. Despite some implementation challenges, evidence of the efficacy, acceptability, and cost-effectiveness of in-prison hepatitis treatment programs is increasing worldwide, and evaluations of these programs have demonstrated the capacity for treating people in high numbers. In this Perspective we argue that the scale-up of hepatitis C prevention, testing, and treatment programs in prisons, along with the investigation of new and adapted approaches, is critical to achieving WHO elimination goals in many regions; the Australian experience is highlighted as a case example. We conclude by discussing opportunities to improve access to prevention, testing, and treatment for people in prison and other justice-involved populations, including harnessing the changed practices brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca J. Winter
- Behaviours and Health Risks/Disease Elimination Programs, Burnet Institute, Melbourne 3004, Australia
- Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, Melbourne 3065, Australia; (J.A.H.); (T.J.P.); (A.J.T.)
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne 3004, Australia
| | - Jacinta A. Holmes
- Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, Melbourne 3065, Australia; (J.A.H.); (T.J.P.); (A.J.T.)
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia
| | - Timothy J. Papaluca
- Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, Melbourne 3065, Australia; (J.A.H.); (T.J.P.); (A.J.T.)
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia
| | - Alexander J. Thompson
- Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, Melbourne 3065, Australia; (J.A.H.); (T.J.P.); (A.J.T.)
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia
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