Integrated psychiatric/medical care in a chronic hepatitis C clinic: effect on antiviral treatment evaluation and outcomes

Mental health and quality of life in patients with chronic liver disease: a single-center structural equation model

BACKGROUND

Chronic liver disease (CLD) is one of the leading disease burdens in Pakistan. Until now, there has only been limited focus in the country on providing health services through tertiary services in urban cities, whereas there is almost no research in Pakistan on the mental health and quality of life of CLD patients. This study aimed to understand which predictors influence the mental health and quality of life of CLD patients in order to advise better policy protection.

METHODS

Data was collected from CLD patients at the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute and Research Centre, Lahore, Pakistan. A total of 850 respondents were part of the final sample. The age of respondents ranged from 18 to 79 years and included the following diagnosis: (i) Chronic Viral Hepatitis (n = 271), (ii) Cirrhosis (n = 259), (iii) Hepatocellular Carcinoma (n = 193), and (iv) Non-viral Liver Disease (n = 127).

RESULTS

Mean results reveal that females as well as illiterate patients need more support for mental health and communication with their physician; whereas men need more support to develop coping strategies. Structural equation modelling results reveal that the severity of symptoms (β = 0.24, p < 0.001), coping strategies (β=-0.51, p < 0.001), and doctor communication (β=-0.35, p < 0.001) predict mental health. Quality of life is associated with the severity of symptoms (β=-0.36, p < 0.001), coping strategies (β = 0.26, p < 0.05), and doctor communication (β = 0.09, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

A 'bio-psycho-social-spiritual' model is recommended for Pakistan's CLD patients which includes the integration of social officers to provide support in four key areas to secure mental health and quality of life of patients.

Multidisciplinary Care of Alcohol-related Liver Disease and Alcohol Use Disorder: A Narrative Review for Hepatology and Addiction Clinicians

PURPOSE

Models of integrated, multidisciplinary care are optimal in the setting of complex, chronic diseases and in the overlap of medical and mental health disease, both of which apply to alcohol-related liver disease (ALD). Alcohol use disorder (AUD) drives nearly all cases of ALD, and coexisting mental health disease is common. ALD is a complex condition with severe clinical manifestations and high mortality that can occasionally lead to liver transplantation. As a result, integrated care for ALD is an attractive proposition. The aim of this narrative review was to: (1) review the overlapping and concerning trends in the epidemiology of AUD and ALD; (2) use a theoretical framework for integrated care known as the "five-component model" as a basis to highlight the need for integrated care and the overlapping clinical manifestations and management of the 2 conditions; and (3) review the existing applications of integrated care in this area.

METHODS

We performed a narrative review of epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and management strategies in AUD and ALD, with a particular focus on areas of overlap that are pertinent to clinicians who manage each disease. Previously published models were reviewed for integrating care in AUD and ALD, both in the general ALD population and in the setting of liver transplantation.

FINDINGS

The incidences of AUD and ALD are rising, with a pronounced acceleration driven by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic. Hepatologists are underprepared to diagnose and treat AUD despite its high prevalence in patients with liver disease. A patient who presents with overlapping clinical manifestations of both AUD and ALD may not fit neatly into typical treatment paradigms for each individual disease but rather will require new management strategies that are appropriately adapted. As a result, the dimensions of integrated care, including collective ownership of shared goals, interdependence among providers, flexibility of roles, and newly created professional activities, are highly pertinent to the holistic management of both diseases.

IMPLICATIONS

Integrated care models have proliferated as recognition grows of the dual pathology of AUD and ALD. Ongoing coordination across disciplines and research in the fields of hepatology and addiction medicine are needed to further elucidate optimal mechanisms for collaboration and improved quality of care.

Predicting the presence of depressive symptoms in the HIV-HCV co-infected population in Canada using supervised machine learning

BACKGROUND

Depression is common in the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infected population. Demographic, behavioural, and clinical data collected in research settings may be of help in identifying those at risk for clinical depression. We aimed to predict the presence of depressive symptoms indicative of a risk of depression and identify important classification predictors using supervised machine learning.

METHODS

We used data from the Canadian Co-infection Cohort, a multicentre prospective cohort, and its associated sub-study on Food Security (FS). The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-10 (CES-D-10) was administered in the FS sub-study; participants were classified as being at risk for clinical depression if scores ≥ 10. We developed two random forest algorithms using the training data (80%) and tenfold cross validation to predict the CES-D-10 classes-1. Full algorithm with all candidate predictors (137 predictors) and 2. Reduced algorithm using a subset of predictors based on expert opinion (46 predictors). We evaluated the algorithm performances in the testing data using area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) and generated predictor importance plots.

RESULTS

We included 1,934 FS sub-study visits from 717 participants who were predominantly male (73%), white (76%), unemployed (73%), and high school educated (52%). At the first visit, median age was 49 years (IQR:43-54) and 53% reported presence of depressive symptoms with CES-D-10 scores ≥ 10. The full algorithm had an AUC of 0.82 (95% CI:0.78-0.86) and the reduced algorithm of 0.76 (95% CI:0.71-0.81). Employment, HIV clinical stage, revenue source, body mass index, and education were the five most important predictors.

CONCLUSION

We developed a prediction algorithm that could be instrumental in identifying individuals at risk for depression in the HIV-HCV co-infected population in research settings. Development of such machine learning algorithms using research data with rich predictor information can be useful for retrospective analyses of unanswered questions regarding impact of depressive symptoms on clinical and patient-centred outcomes among vulnerable populations.

Detection of active hepatitis C in a single visit and linkage to care among marginalized people using a mobile unit in Madrid, Spain

BACKGROUND

The burden of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among marginalized people in Spain is high, despite the fact that HCV prevalence has decreased in recent years. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of a simplified point-of-care (PoC) model for screening for active HCV infection via a mobile unit and subsequent linkage to care with the assistance of navigators.

METHODS

We carried out a prospective study on 2001 participants from Madrid, Spain. A nurse and a navigator/educator screened for hepatitis C in a mobile unit, using the OraQuick HCV Rapid Antibody Test and Xpert HCV VL Fingerstick assay. Participants with active HCV were referred to the hospital the same day with a navigator for evaluation and treatment of HCV.

RESULTS

Overall, 1621 (81%) participants had not been exposed to HCV, 380 (18.9%) were positive for HCV antibodies, and 136 (6.8%) had active hepatitis C. Among the latter, 134 (98.5%) received the HCV screening results, 133 (97.8%) had an appointment at the hospital, 126 (92.8%) were seen by a physician once they were at the hospital, and 105 (77.2%) started HCV treatment. Being over 50 years old and a person who uses drugs, particularly people who inject drugs (PWID), was directly associated with active hepatitis C (p<0.05). PWID were the only patients with HCV reinfection (4.3% in people without recent injecting drug use and 5.9% in people with recent injecting drug use). Among PWID, no income and daily alcohol intake were also directly associated with active hepatitis C. People with recent injecting drug use showed the lowest rates of attendance at the hospital (91.8%) and starting HCV treatment (70.4%).

CONCLUSION

HCV screening using a two-step PoC-based strategy and its linkage to care was extremely efficient for identifying and treating marginalized people with active hepatitis C, thanks to the use of a mobile unit with personnel and technical equipment, an interdisciplinary team, and collaboration between institutions.

Hepatitis C virus DAA treatment adherence patterns and SVR among people who inject drugs treated in opioid agonist therapy programs

BACKGROUND

Adequate medication adherence is critical for achieving sustained viral response (SVR) of hepatitis C virus (HCV) among people who inject drugs (PWID). However, it is less known which patterns of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment adherence are associated with SVR in this population or what factors are associated with each pattern.

METHODS

The randomized three-arm PREVAIL study utilized electronic blister packs to obtain daily time frame adherence data in opiate agonist therapy program settings. Exact logistic regressions were applied to test the associations between SVR and six types of treatment adherence patterns.

RESULTS

Of the 113 participants treated with combination DAAs, 109 (96.5%) achieved SVR. SVR was significantly associated with all pattern parameters except for number of switches between adherent and missed days: total adherent daily doses (exact AOR=1.12; 95%CI=1.04-1.22), percent total doses (1.09; 1.03-1.16), days on treatment (1.16; 1.05-1.32), maximum consecutive adherent days (1.34; 1.06-2.04), maximum consecutive non-adherent days (.85; .74-.95=.003). SVR was significantly associated with total adherent doses in the first two months of treatment, it was not in the last month. Compared to White participants (30.7±11.8(se)), Black (18.4±7.8) and Hispanic participants (19.2±6.1) had significantly shorter maximum consecutive adherent days. While alcohol intoxication was significantly associated with frequent switches, drug use was not associated with any adherence pattern.

CONCLUSION

Consistent maintenance of adequate total dose adherence over the entire course of HCV treatment is important in achieving SVR among PWID. Additional integrative addiction and medical care may be warranted for treating PWID experiencing alcohol intoxication.

Management and control of tuberculosis control in socially complex groups: a research programme including three RCTs

Background

Socially complex groups, including people experiencing homelessness, prisoners and drug users, have very high levels of tuberculosis, often complicated by late diagnosis and difficulty in adhering to treatment.

Objective

To assess a series of interventions to improve tuberculosis control in socially complex groups.

Design

A series of observational surveys, evaluations and trials of interventions.

Setting

The pan-London Find&Treat service, which supports tuberculosis screening and case management in socially complex groups across London.

Participants

Socially complex groups with tuberculosis or at risk of tuberculosis, including people experiencing homelessness, prisoners, drug users and those at high risk of poor adherence to tuberculosis treatment.

Interventions and main outcome measures

We screened 491 people in homeless hostels and 511 people in prison for latent tuberculosis infection, human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. We evaluated an NHS-led prison radiographic screening programme. We conducted a cluster randomised controlled trial (2348 eligible people experiencing homelessness in 46 hostels) of the effectiveness of peer educators (22 hostels) compared with NHS staff (24 hostels) at encouraging the uptake of mobile radiographic screening. We initiated a trial of the use of point-of-care polymerase chain reaction diagnostics to rapidly confirm tuberculosis alongside mobile radiographic screening. We undertook a randomised controlled trial to improve treatment adherence, comparing face-to-face, directly observed treatment with video-observed treatment using a smartphone application. The primary outcome was completion of ≥ 80% of scheduled treatment observations over the first 2 months following enrolment. We assessed the cost-effectiveness of latent tuberculosis screening alongside radiographic screening of people experiencing homelessness. The costs of video-observed treatment and directly observed treatment were compared.

Results

In the homeless hostels, 16.5% of people experiencing homelessness had latent tuberculosis infection, 1.4% had current hepatitis B infection, 10.4% had hepatitis C infection and 1.0% had human immunodeficiency virus infection. When a quality-adjusted life-year is valued at £30,000, the latent tuberculosis screening of people experiencing homelessness was cost-effective provided treatment uptake was ≥ 25% (for a £20,000 quality-adjusted life-year threshold, treatment uptake would need to be > 50%). In prison, 12.6% of prisoners had latent tuberculosis infection, 1.9% had current hepatitis B infection, 4.2% had hepatitis C infection and 0.0% had human immunodeficiency virus infection. In both settings, levels of latent tuberculosis infection and blood-borne viruses were higher among injecting drug users. A total of 1484 prisoners were screened using chest radiography over a total of 112 screening days (new prisoner screening coverage was 43%). Twenty-nine radiographs were reported as potentially indicating tuberculosis. One prisoner began, and completed, antituberculosis treatment in prison. In the cluster randomised controlled trial of peer educators to increase screening uptake, the median uptake was 45% in the control arm and 40% in the intervention arm (adjusted risk ratio 0.98, 95% confidence interval 0.80 to 1.20). A rapid diagnostic service was established on the mobile radiographic unit but the trial of rapid diagnostics was abandoned because of recruitment and follow-up difficulties. We randomly assigned 112 patients to video-observed treatment and 114 patients to directly observed treatment. Fifty-eight per cent of those recruited had a history of homelessness, addiction, imprisonment or severe mental health problems. Seventy-eight (70%) of 112 patients on video-observed treatment achieved the primary outcome, compared with 35 (31%) of 114 patients on directly observed treatment (adjusted odds ratio 5.48, 95% confidence interval 3.10 to 9.68; p < 0.0001). Video-observed treatment was superior to directly observed treatment in all demographic and social risk factor subgroups. The cost for 6 months of treatment observation was £1645 for daily video-observed treatment, £3420 for directly observed treatment three times per week and £5700 for directly observed treatment five times per week.

Limitations

Recruitment was lower than anticipated for most of the studies. The peer advocate study may have been contaminated by the fact that the service was already using peer educators to support its work.

Conclusions

There are very high levels of latent tuberculosis infection among prisoners, people experiencing homelessness and drug users. Screening for latent infection in people experiencing homelessness alongside mobile radiographic screening would be cost-effective, providing the uptake of treatment was 25–50%. Despite ring-fenced funding, the NHS was unable to establish static radiographic screening programmes. Although we found no evidence that peer educators were more effective than health-care workers in encouraging the uptake of mobile radiographic screening, there may be wider benefits of including peer educators as part of the Find&Treat team. Utilising polymerase chain reaction-based rapid diagnostic testing on a mobile radiographic unit is feasible. Smartphone-enabled video-observed treatment is more effective and cheaper than directly observed treatment for ensuring that treatment is observed.

Future work

Trials of video-observed treatment in high-incidence settings are needed.

Trial registration

Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN17270334 and ISRCTN26184967.

Funding

This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Programme Grants for Applied Research programme and will be published in full in Programme Grants for Applied Research; Vol. 8, No. 9. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

A Randomized Controlled Trial of an Integrated Alcohol Reduction Intervention in Patients With Hepatitis C Infection

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and alcohol use are patient risk factors for accelerated fibrosis progression, yet few randomized controlled trials have tested clinic-based alcohol interventions.

APPROACH AND RESULTS

A total of 181 patients with HCV and qualifying alcohol screener scores at three liver center settings were randomly assigned to the following: (1) medical provider-delivered Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT), including motivational interviewing counseling and referral out for alcohol treatment (SBIRT-only), or (2) SBIRT plus 6 months of integrated colocated alcohol therapy (SBIRT + Alcohol Treatment). The timeline followback method was used to assess alcohol use at baseline and 3, 6, and 12 months. Coprimary outcomes were alcohol abstinence at 6 months and heavy drinking days between 6 and 12 months. Secondary outcomes included grams of alcohol consumed per week at 6 months. Mean therapy hours across 6 months were 8.8 for SBIRT-only and 10.1 for SBIRT + Alcohol Treatment participants. The proportion of participants exhibiting full alcohol abstinence increased from baseline to 3, 6, and 12 months in both treatment arms, but no significant differences were found between arms (baseline to 6 months, 7.1% to 20.5% for SBIRT-only; 4.2% to 23.3% for SBIRT + Alcohol Treatment; P = 0.70). Proportions of participants with any heavy drinking days decreased in both groups at 6 months but did not significantly differ between the SBIRT-only (87.5% to 26.7%) and SBIRT + Alcohol Treatment (85.7% to 42.1%) arms (P = 0.30). Although both arms reduced average grams of alcohol consumed per week from baseline to 6 and 12 months, between-treatment effects were not significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with current or prior HCV infection will engage in alcohol treatment when encouraged by liver medical providers. Liver clinics should consider implementing provider-delivered SBIRT and tailored alcohol treatment referrals as part of the standard of care.

Access to Comprehensive Services for Advanced Liver Disease in the Veterans Health Administration

BACKGROUND

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) provides care to the one of the largest cohorts of patients with advanced liver disease (ALD) in the USA.

AIMS

We performed a national survey to assess system-wide strengths and barriers to care for Veterans with ALD in this national integrated healthcare setting.

METHODS

A 52-item survey was developed to assess access and barriers to care in Veterans with ALD. The survey was distributed to all VHA medical centers in 2015. Results were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

RESULTS

One hundred and fifty-three sites responded to this survey. Multidisciplinary services were available on-site at > 80% of sites. Ninety-five percent of sites had mental health and addictions treatment available, with 14% co-locating these services within the liver clinic. Few sites (< 25%) provided pharmacologic treatment for alcohol use disorder in primary care or hepatology settings. Seventy-two percent of sites reported at least one barrier to liver-related care. Of the sites reporting at least one barrier, 53% reported barriers to liver transplant referral, citing complex processes and lack of staff/resources to coordinate referrals. Palliative care was widely available, but 61% of sites reported referring < 25% of their patients with ALD for palliative services.

CONCLUSION

Multidisciplinary services for Veterans with ALD are widely available at VHA sites, though barriers to optimal care remain. Opportunities for improvement include the expansion of providers with hepatology expertise, integrating pharmacotherapy for alcohol use disorder into hepatology and primary care, streamlining the transplant referral process, and expanding palliative care referrals for patients with ALD.

We know DAAs work, so now what? Simplifying models of care to enhance the hepatitis C cascade

Globally, some 71 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Marginalized populations, particularly people who inject drugs (PWID), have low testing, linkage to care and treatment rates for HCV. Several models of care (MoCs) and service delivery interventions have the potential to improve outcomes across the HCV cascade of care, but much of the relevant research was carried out when interferon-based treatment was the standard of care. Often it was not practical to scale-up these earlier models and interventions because the clinical care needs of patients taking interferon-based regimens imposed too much of a financial and human resource burden on health systems. Despite the adoption of highly effective, all-oral direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapies in recent years, approaches to HCV testing and treatment have evolved slowly and often remain rooted in earlier paradigms. The effectiveness of DAAs allows for simpler approaches and has encouraged countries where the drugs are widely available to set their sights on the ambitious World Health Organization (WHO) HCV elimination targets. Since a large proportion of chronically HCV-infected people are not currently accessing treatment, there is an urgent need to identify and implement existing simplified MoCs that speak to specific populations' needs. This article aims to: (i) review the evidence on MoCs for HCV; and (ii) distil the findings into recommendations for how stakeholders can simplify the path taken by chronically HCV-infected individuals from testing to cure and subsequent care and monitoring.

Integrated models of care for people who inject drugs and live with hepatitis C virus: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Despite the key role that people who inject drugs (PWID) play in the hepatitis C virus (HCV) epidemic, HCV treatment rates among this population have been historically low. Integrated models of HCV and substance use care have the potential to overcome some barriers to access; however, the evidence base is uncertain. This systematic review assesses the impacts of integrated HCV and substance use services on engagement in HCV care among PWID.

METHODS

We searched five databases up to December 2018 to identify original quantitative studies evaluating the impacts of co-location of HCV and substance use services on engagement in the HCV cascade of care among adult PWID. We conducted a narrative synthesis, categorizing models based on patient entry point (a: HCV facility, b: substance use disorder (SUD) facility, and c: other facilities), and levels of integrated services offered (a: HCV/substance use testing only, b: HCV/substance use treatment, and c: testing/treatment + other services).

RESULTS

A total of 46 articles corresponding to 44 original studies were included. Almost all studies (n = 42) were conducted in high-income countries and only six studies in the Direct-Acting Antiviral (DAA) era. Twenty-six studies discussed the integration of services at SUD facilities, one at HCV facilities, and seventeen at other facilities. Analysis of included studies indicated that overall integrated care resulted in improved engagement in HCV care (e.g., testing, treatment uptake and cure). However, the quality of evidence was predominantly low to moderate.

CONCLUSIONS

Available evidence suggests that integration of HCV and substance use services may improve engagement along the continuum of HCV care among PWID. Given limitations in data quality, and very few studies conducted in the DAA era and in low- and middle-income settings, further research is urgently needed to inform strategies to optimize HCV care access and outcomes among PWID globally.

Real-world study of hepatitis C treatment with direct-acting antivirals in patients with drug abuse and opioid agonist therapy

Background: Limited data exist evaluating the treatment outcomes with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) in patients with drug use in the community setting. We aim to assess the treatment response of DAAs in this subset of patients with or without the opioid agonist therapy (OAT). Methods: All the hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected patients treated with DAAs were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were stratified into two groups by the presence or absence of abusing alcohol, cocaine and heroin. All the patients who were assigned to the abuser group had positive urine toxicology with one of the drugs during the DAA treatment. The primary assessment was the sustained virologic response (SVR12) at 12 weeks post-treatment (SVR12). Results: Among the 314 patients, 152, 128 and 58 were patients with drug use, non-drug use and receiving OAT. Among the patients with injectable or non-injectable drug use treatment, completion rate was 99% (151/152) and SVR12 was 93.4%. Among the patients with no drug use treatment, completion rate was 95% (122/128) and SVR12 was 88.3%. Among patients receiving OAT alone, SVR12 was 100%, and in patients with OAT + other drug use, SVR12 was 96.5%. None of the patients included in this study discontinued the treatment due to adverse events associated with treatment medications. Conclusions: In this community-based study, DAAs are safe, effective with high overall SVR12 in patients with active drug use (injectable and non-injectable) and OAT enrolled patients. These results support the removal of drug use as a barrier to DAA therapy.

Hepatitis C elimination among people who inject drugs: Challenges and recommendations for action within a health systems framework

The burden of hepatitis C infection is considerable among people who inject drugs (PWID), with an estimated prevalence of 39%, representing an estimated 6.1 million people who have recently injected drugs living with hepatitis C infection. As such, PWID are a priority population for enhancing prevention, testing, linkage to care, treatment and follow-up care in order to meet World Health Organization (WHO) hepatitis C elimination goals by 2030. There are many barriers to enhancing hepatitis C prevention and care among PWID including poor global coverage of harm reduction services, restrictive drug policies and criminalization of drug use, poor access to health services, low hepatitis C testing, linkage to care and treatment, restrictions for accessing DAA therapy, and the lack of national strategies and government investment to support WHO elimination goals. On 5 September 2017, the International Network of Hepatitis in Substance Users (INHSU) held a roundtable panel of international experts to discuss remaining challenges and future priorities for action from a health systems perspective. The WHO health systems framework comprises six core components: service delivery, health workforce, health information systems, medical procurement, health systems financing, and leadership and governance. Communication has been proposed as a seventh key element which promotes the central role of affected community engagement. This review paper presents recommended strategies for eliminating hepatitis C as a major public health threat among PWID and outlines future priorities for action within a health systems framework.

The Hepatitis C-Alcohol Reduction Treatment (Hep ART) intervention: Study protocol of a multi-center randomized controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Among patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, alcohol synergistically increases the risk of cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and death. Randomized controlled trials of integrated models of HCV-alcohol treatment have been recommended but only performed in patients with severe alcohol use disorders.

OBJECTIVES

This pragmatic randomized controlled trial seeks to compare clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of integrated alcohol treatment compared to enhanced treatment as usual (TAU) on alcohol consumption and economic outcomes among patients ever infected with HCV.

METHODS

Patients recruited from three liver centers who had current or prior chronic HCV and qualifying alcohol screener scores were randomly assigned to enhanced TAU or the Hepatitis C-Alcohol Reduction Treatment (Hep ART) intervention. All patients received enhanced TAU, consisting of a patient-administered alcohol screener and care from medical providers who were trained in Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT), including brief motivational interviewing counseling. The Hep ART intervention combined enhanced TAU with up to six months of integrated co-located individual and/or group therapy that provided motivational, cognitive, and behavioral strategies to reduce alcohol consumption. The Timeline Followback (TLFB) Method was used to evaluate alcohol use at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months. Primary outcomes are alcohol abstinence and fewer heavy drinking days, and for the cost-effectiveness analysis, measures included grams of alcohol consumed.

DISCUSSION

This study will determine whether Hep ART, a six-month integrated alcohol treatment, compared to enhanced TAU, is both clinically effective and cost-effective in patients with a history of comorbid HCV and alcohol use.

Unique Challenges of Hepatitis C in Infants, Children, and Adolescents

PURPOSE

Hepatitis C, a chronic disease with deadly consequences, is no longer predominantly a disease of older people.

METHODS

A limited search was conducted of the relevant literature on 2 topics: (1) the impact of hepatitis C on infants exposed by vertical transmission; and (2) the impact of hepatitis C infection on infected children and adolescents. The findings were supplemented by the first-hand experience of the authors.

FINDINGS

Young people, including women of childbearing age, infants, children, and adolescents, are being especially affected by hepatitis C infection secondary to the intravenous drug use and opioid epidemic. Unfortunately, estimates of disease in young populations are all misleading because universal screening has not been implemented.

IMPLICATIONS

Lack of implementation of policies for screening and therapy on most affected populations will be responsible for perpetuation of this infection. In the era of highly effective therapy and a regimen that is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for children, this outcome is unacceptable.

Direct-acting antiviral agents for HCV infection affecting people who inject drugs

Globally, 12 million people are estimated to have injected drugs in the past year, 50% of whom have chronic HCV infection, with people who have previously injected drugs presenting an additional large reservoir of infection. The availability of simple and tolerable interferon-free direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) for HCV infection, which have a cure rate of >95% represents one of the most exciting advances in clinical medicine in the past few decades. Adherence and response to DAA therapy among people who inject drugs (PWID) receiving opioid substitution therapy (OST) in clinical trials are comparable to populations without a history of injecting drugs. Further data are required among current PWID not receiving OST. Given the potential prevention benefits of treatment, DAAs have enhanced cost-effectiveness among PWID. As HCV therapy is expanded to populations of PWID with high-risk behaviours for re-exposure, acknowledgement that HCV reinfection will occur is crucial, and appropriate strategies must be in place to maximize prevention of reinfection and offer retreatment for reinfection. This Review will also discuss essential components for broadening access to HCV care for PWID as we strive for the global elimination of HCV infection.

Research priorities to achieve universal access to hepatitis C prevention, management and direct-acting antiviral treatment among people who inject drugs

Globally, it is estimated that 71.1 million people have chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, including an estimated 7.5 million people who have recently injected drugs (PWID). There is an additional large, but unquantified, burden among those PWID who have ceased injecting. The incidence of HCV infection among current PWID also remains high in many settings. Morbidity and mortality due to liver disease among PWID with HCV infection continues to increase, despite the advent of well-tolerated, simple interferon-free direct-acting antiviral (DAA) HCV regimens with cure rates >95%. As a result of this important clinical breakthrough, there is potential to reverse the rising burden of advanced liver disease with increased treatment and strive for HCV elimination among PWID. Unfortunately, there are many gaps in knowledge that represent barriers to effective prevention and management of HCV among PWID. The Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney and the International Network on Hepatitis in Substance Users (INHSU) established an expert round table panel to assess current research gaps and establish future research priorities for the prevention and management of HCV among PWID. This round table consisted of a one-day workshop held on 6 September, 2016, in Oslo, Norway, prior to the International Symposium on Hepatitis in Substance Users (INHSU 2016). International experts in drug and alcohol, infectious diseases, and hepatology were brought together to discuss the available scientific evidence, gaps in research, and develop research priorities. Topics for discussion included the epidemiology of injecting drug use, HCV, and HIV among PWID, HCV prevention, HCV testing, linkage to HCV care and treatment, DAA treatment for HCV infection, and reinfection following successful treatment. This paper highlights the outcomes of the roundtable discussion focused on future research priorities for enhancing HCV prevention, testing, linkage to care and DAA treatment for PWID as we strive for global elimination of HCV infection.

Co-location as a Driver for Cross-Sectoral Collaboration with General Practitioners as Coordinators: The Case of a Danish Municipal Health Centre

The issue of integrated care and inter-sectoral collaboration is on the health policy agenda in many countries. Yet, there is limited knowledge about the effects of the different policy instruments used to achieve this. This paper studies co-location as a driver for cross-sectoral collaboration with general practitioners (GPs) acting as coordinators in a municipal health centre. The purpose of the health centre, which is staffed by health professionals from municipal, regional and private sectors, is to provide primary health services to the citizens of the municipality. Co-locating these professionals is supposed to benefit e.g., elder citizens and patients with chronic diseases who frequently require services from health professionals across administrative sectors. Methodologically, the analysis is based on qualitative data in the form of semi-structured interviews with the health professionals employed at the health centre and with administrative managers from municipal and regional government levels. The study finds that co-location does not function as a driver for cross-sectoral collaboration in a health centre when GPs act as coordinators. Cross-sectoral collaboration is hampered by the general practitioners' work routines and professional identity, by organisational factors and by a lack of clarity concerning the content of collaboration with regard to economic and professional incentives.

Facilitators of HCV treatment adherence among people who inject drugs: a systematic qualitative review and implications for scale up of direct acting antivirals

Background

While the public health benefits of new HCV treatments depend on treatment adherence, particularly among people who inject drugs (PWID), several social and medical factors can jeopardize treatment adherence. The aim of this study is to examine the qualitative literature on facilitators to HCV treatment adherence among PWID.

Methods

We searched six databases to identify qualitative research studies on HCV treatment adherence facilitators among PWID. Two reviewers independently extracted and analyzed data using PRISMA guidelines and the CASP tool to evaluate study quality.

Results

From ten studies representing data from 525 participants, three major themes emerged across studies: logistical facilitators within health systems enhanced HCV treatment adherence, positive social interactions between PWID and staff provided positive feedback during treatment, and HCV treatment may complicate the addiction recovery process.

Conclusions

Although PWID face several barriers to adherence, we identified treatment adherence facilitators that could be incorporated into clinical practice.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12889-016-3671-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Hepatitis C Treatment: Clinical Issues for Psychiatrists in the Post-Interferon Era

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a widespread and costly cause of morbidity and mortality globally and in the United States. The treatment of HCV has been revolutionized with the recent development of direct-acting antiviral medications. These new treatments are substantially better tolerated and more efficacious than previously used interferon-based therapies. Despite these innovations, sustained virologic response has remained low, hovering at approximately 9% of all infected persons. The reasons for this failure include lack of screening, low rates of linkage to care, cost of direct-acting antivirals, and barriers in access to care for patients. Psychiatrists work with patients at a disproportionately high risk for HCV infection yet many do not currently assume an active role in the HCV epidemic.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this clinical review is to familiarize psychiatrists with currently available hepatitis C treatments and discuss the remaining treatment challenges, including the high cost of treatment.

METHODS

The authors used information from the Centers for Disease Control and Food and Drug Administration on the most current estimates of HCV epidemiology, risk factors, and approved interferon-free treatments. PUBMED was searched for examples of HCV treatment in community psychiatry settings.

CONCLUSIONS

The mental health community is well-positioned to take on a more active role in HCV treatment and engage patients׳ trust in the treatment process. However, many barriers still exist. We encourage psychiatrists to assume a collaborative role in caring for psychiatric patients infected with HCV.

Interventions to optimise the care continuum for chronic viral hepatitis: a systematic review and meta-analyses

BACKGROUND

Advances in therapy for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) have ushered in a new era in chronic hepatitis treatment. To maximise the effectiveness of these medicines, individuals must be engaged and retained in care. We analysed operational interventions to enhance chronic viral hepatitis testing, linkage to care, treatment uptake, adherence, and viral suppression or cure.

METHODS

We did a systematic review of operational interventions, and did meta-analyses for sufficiently comparable data. We searched PubMed, Embase, WHO library, International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, PsycINFO, and CINAHL for randomised controlled trials and controlled non-randomised studies that examined operational interventions along the chronic viral hepatitis care continuum, published in English up to Dec 31, 2014. We included non-pharmaceutical intervention studies with primary or secondary outcomes of testing, linkage to care, treatment uptake, treatment adherence, treatment completion, treatment outcome, or viral endpoints. We excluded dissertations and studies of children only. Data were extracted by two independent reviewers, with disagreements resolved by a third reviewer. Studies were assessed for bias. Data from similar interventions were pooled and quality of evidence was assessed using GRADE. This study was registered in PROSPERO (42014015094).

FINDINGS

We identified 7583 unduplicated studies, and included 56 studies that reported outcomes along the care continuum (41 for HCV and 18 for HBV). All studies except one were from high-income countries. Lay health worker HBV test promotion interventions increased HBV testing rates (relative risk [RR] 2·68, 95% CI 1·82-3·93). Clinician reminders to prompt HCV testing during clinical visits increased HCV testing rates (3·70, 1·81-7·57). Nurse-led educational interventions improved HCV treatment completion (1·14, 1·05-1·23) and cure (odds ratio [OR] 1·93, 95% CI 1·44-2·59). Coordinated mental health, substance misuse, and hepatitis treatment services increased HCV treatment uptake (OR 3·03, 1·24-7·37), adherence (RR 1·22, 1·05-1·41), and cure (RR 1·21, 1·07-1·38) compared with usual care.

INTERPRETATION

Several simple, inexpensive operational interventions can substantially improve engagement and retention along the chronic viral hepatitis care continuum. Further operational research to inform scale-up of hepatitis services is needed in low-income and middle-income countries.

FUNDING

World Health Organization and US Fulbright Program.

Co-occurring Depression, Chronic Pain and Substance Use Disorders in People with Hepatitis C

Chronic infection with Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is common and can result in serious and sometimes fatal liver complications. The impact of HCV on the liver can be further complicated by medical and psychological comorbidities. Depression, substance use, and pain syndromes are frequent co-morbid conditions in people with HCV and diminish functioning, quality of life, and treatment compliance. Understanding the underlying biological mechanisms of these comorbid conditions within the context of HCV may help elucidate factors contributing to their co-occurrence, perhaps mediatedviapro-inflammatory cytokines. The current review provides a synthesis of the literature on depression, substance use disorders and chronic pain in the presence of HCV. The review includes studies conducted with both veteran and civilian populations. The implications for assessment and antiviral treatment of HCV will be considered.

A Primary Care-based Collaborative Hepatitis C Clinic: Clinical Structure and Virologic Outcomes with Direct Acting Antiviral Therapy

Background:

Currently 4 million persons in the US have active hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and most have never successfully completed antiviral treatment. Newer therapies herald potential for wider uptake and acceptance of treatment, but the number of hepatology specialists is limited and newer models are needed to increase access to care. The aim of this study is to describe a collaborative primary care-based clinic for HCV treatment.

Methods:

Retrospective analysis of a collaborative primary care clinic developed for the evaluation and treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C at one VA medical center. A half-day clinic was organized with 4 primary care MDs, 2 hepatologists, 2 nurse practitioners, and a co-located psychiatrist, pharmacist and nurse case manager. Clinic productivity and outcomes related to the number of patients who initiated and completed treatment with direct acting antivirals (DAA) and pegylated interferon and ribavirin were evaluated.

Results:

In this 18 month period, the clinic had 1890 confirmed HCV registry patients and 1690 clinic visits. 74 HCV genotype 1 patients initiated DAA therapy. Primary care providers treated 47 patients (32% cirrhotic) and hepatologists treated 27 patients (48% cirrhotic). Final SVR rate was 54.6% (39.2% cirrhotics vs. 65.2% noncirrhotics). SVR rates were higher in patients with primary care providers (61.7%) vs. hepatologists (44.4%). Despite numerous adverse events, early treatment termination for adverse events occurred in 5.3% vs. 21.3% for virologic non-response. Multivariate analysis revealed no significant differences between primary care and hepatology for SVR and treatment discontinuations.

Conclusion:

This clinic demonstrated effectiveness and safety with DAA therapy. This illustrates potential for a primary care based collaborative clinic, which will be crucial for expanding access to effective HCV care.

Integrated Care Increases Treatment and Improves Outcomes of Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection and Psychiatric Illness or Substance Abuse

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection with psychiatric disorders and/or substance abuse face significant barriers to antiviral treatment. New strategies are needed to improve treatment rates and outcomes. We investigated whether an integrated care (IC) protocol, which includes multidisciplinary care coordination and patient case management, could increase the proportion of patients with chronic HCV infection who receive antiviral treatment (a combination of interferon-based and direct-acting antiviral agents) and achieve a sustained virologic response (SVR).

METHODS

We performed a prospective randomized trial at 3 medical centers in the United States. Participants (n = 363 patients attending HCV clinics) had been screened and tested positive for depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and/or substance use; they were assigned randomly to groups that received IC or usual care (controls) from March 2009 through February 2011. A midlevel mental health practitioner was placed at each HCV clinic to provide IC with brief mental health interventions and case management, according to formal protocol. The primary end point was SVR.

RESULTS

Of the study participants, 63% were non-white, 51% were homeless in the past 5 years, 64% had psychiatric illness, 65% were substance abusers within 1 year before enrollment, 57% were at risk for post-traumatic stress disorder, 71% had active depression, 80% were infected with HCV genotype 1, and 23% had advanced fibrosis. Over a mean follow-up period of 28 months, a greater proportion of patients in the IC group began receiving antiviral therapy (31.9% vs 18.8% for controls; P = .005) and achieved a SVR (15.9% vs 7.7% of controls; odds ratio, 2.26; 95% confidence interval, 1.15-4.44; P = .018). There were no differences in serious adverse events between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Integrated care increases the proportion of patients with HCV infection and psychiatric illness and/or substance abuse who begin antiviral therapy and achieve SVRs, without serious adverse events. ClinicalTrials.gov # NCT00722423.

Expanding capacity for hepatitis C treatment in the United States: team-based care and use of nonphysician providers

Hepatitis C treatment is rapidly evolving with significant improvements in patient outcomes. With an estimated prevalence of over 3 million persons living with chronic hepatitis C in the United States, it is anticipated that there will be an increase in the number of persons seeking care and treatment for chronic hepatitis C infection. Current systems of care may be overburdened with people seeking care for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV). Interprofessional models of care have been shown to be feasible and effective in treating different populations affected by chronic HCV. Use of interprofessional teams, integrated models of care, and greater use of nonphysician providers offer a potential solution for expanding capacity to comprehensive HCV treatment and care in the United States.

Psychiatric and substance use disorders co-morbidities and hepatitis C: Diagnostic and treatment implications

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) viral infection is the most common blood-borne viral infection and approximately 2%-3% of the world’s population or 170-200 million people are infected. In the United States as many as 3-5 million people may have HCV. Psychiatric and substance use disorders (SUDs) are common co-morbid conditions found in people with HCV and are factors in predisposing people to HCV infection. Also, these co-morbidities are reasons that clinicians exclude people from antiviral therapy in spite of evidence that people with HCV and co-morbid psychiatric and SUD can be safely and effectively treated. Furthermore, the neuropsychiatric side effects of interferon (IFN), until recently the mainstay of antiviral therapy, have necessitated an appreciation and assessment of psychiatric co-morbidities present in people with HCV. The availability of new medications and IFN-free antiviral therapy medication combinations will shorten the duration of treatment and exposure to IFN and thus decrease the risk of neuropsychiatric side effects. This will have the consequence of dramatically altering the clinical landscape of HCV care and will increase the number of eligible treatment candidates as treatment of people with HCV and co-morbid psychiatric and SUDs will become increasingly viable. While economically developed countries will rely on expensive IFN-free antiviral therapy, less developed countries will likely continue to use IFN-based therapies at least until such time as IFN-free antiviral medications become generic. The current manuscript discusses the efficacy and viability of treating HCV in people with psychiatric and SUDs comorbidities, the treatment of the neuropsychiatric side effects of IFN -based therapies and the impact of new medications and new treatment options for HCV that offer the promise of increasing the availability of antiviral therapy in this vulnerable population.

Resolute efforts to cure hepatitis C: Understanding patients' reasons for completing antiviral treatment

Antiviral treatment for hepatitis C is usually difficult, demanding, and debilitating and has long offered modest prospects of successful cure. Most people who may need treatment have faced stigma of an illness associated with drug and alcohol misuse and thus may be deemed poor candidates for treatment, while completing a course of treatment typically calls for resolve and responsibility. Patients' efforts and their reasons for completing treatment have received scant attention in hepatitis C clinical policy discourse that instead focuses on problems of adherence and patients' expected failures. Thus, we conducted qualitative interviews with patients who had recently undertaken treatment to explore their reasons for completing antiviral treatment. Analysis of their narrative accounts identified four principal reasons: cure the infection, avoid a bad end, demonstrate the virtue of perseverance through a personal trial, and achieve personal rehabilitation. Their reasons reflect moral rationales that mark the social discredit ascribed to the infection and may represent efforts to restore creditable social membership. Their reasons may also reflect the selection processes that render some of the infected as good candidates for treatment, while excluding others. Explication of the moral context of treatment may identify opportunities to support patients' efforts in completing treatment, as well as illuminate the choices people with hepatitis C make about engaging in care.

A psychiatric pharmacist in a liver clinic managing treated patients with chronic hepatitis C viral infection

A board-certified psychiatric pharmacist is an ideal clinician to manage medication needs for patients being treated for chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Underlying psychiatric symptoms should be managed before initiating medications such as interferons-therapeutic biologicals associated with causing psychiatric adverse events, including suicide. The role of a psychiatric pharmacist in a hepatitis C liver clinic highlights the value of a psychiatric pharmacist providing direct patient care and improving the quality of healthcare services in a subspecialty practice model.

Efficacy of motivational enhancement therapy on alcohol use disorders in patients with chronic hepatitis C: a randomized controlled trial

AIMS

To determine the efficacy of motivational enhancement therapy (MET) on alcohol use in patients with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and an alcohol use disorder (AUD).

DESIGN

Randomized, single-blind, controlled trial comparing MET to a control education condition with 6-month follow-up.

SETTING

Patients were recruited from hepatitis clinics at the Minneapolis, Minnesota and Portland, Oregon Veterans Affairs Health Care Systems, USA.

PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTION

Patients with HCV, an AUD and continued alcohol use (n = 139) were randomized to receive either MET (n = 70) or a control education condition (n = 69) over 3 months.

MEASUREMENTS

Data were self-reported percentage of days abstinent from alcohol and number of standard alcohol drinks per week 6 months after randomization.

FINDINGS

At baseline, subjects in MET had 34.98% days abstinent, which increased to 73.15% at 6 months compared to 34.63 and 59.49% for the control condition. Multi-level models examined changes in alcohol consumption between MET and control groups. Results showed a significant increase in percentage of days abstinent overall (F(1120.4)  = 28.04, P < 0.001) and a significant group × time effect (F(1119.9)  = 5.23, P = 0.024) with the MET group showing a greater increase in percentage of days abstinent at 6 months compared with the education control condition. There were no significant differences between groups for drinks per week. The effect size of the MET intervention was moderate (0.45) for percentage of days abstinent.

CONCLUSION

Motivational enhancement therapy (MET) appears to increase the percentage of days abstinent in patients with chronic hepatitis C, alcohol use disorders and ongoing alcohol use.

Eligibility of persons who inject drugs for treatment of hepatitis C virus infection

In this decade, an increase is expected in end-stage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma, most commonly caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Although people who inject drugs (PWID) are the major source for HCV infection, they were excluded from antiviral treatments until recently. Nowadays there is incontrovertible evidence in favor of treating these patients, and substitution therapy and active substance use are no longer contraindications for antiviral treatment. The viral clearance in PWID after HCV antiviral treatment with interferon or pegylated interferon combined with ribavirin is comparable to the viral clearance in non-substance users. Furthermore, multidisciplinary approaches to delivering treatment to PWID are advised, and their treatment should be considered on an individualized basis. To prevent the spread of HCV in the PWID community, recent active PWID are eligible for treatment in combination with needle exchange programs and substitution therapy. As the rate of HCV reinfection is low after HCV antiviral treatment, there is no need to withhold HCV treatment due to concerns about reinfection alone. Despite the advances in treatment efficacies and data supporting their success, HCV assessment of PWID and initiation of antiviral treatment remains low. However, the proportion of PWID assessed and treated for HCV is increasing, which can be further enhanced by understanding the barriers to and facilitators of HCV care. Removing stigmatization and implementing peer support and group treatment strategies, in conjunction with greater involvement by nurse educators/practitioners, will promote greater treatment seeking and adherence by PWID. Moreover, screening can be facilitated by noninvasive methods for detecting HCV antibodies and assessing liver fibrosis stages. Recently, HCV clearance has become a major endpoint in the war against drugs for the Global Commission on Drug Policy. This review highlights the most recent evidence concerning HCV infection and treatment strategies in PWID.

Liver enzymes and psychological well-being response to aerobic exercise training in patients with chronic hepatitis C

BACKGROUND

Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is a medical condition that has broad implications for a person's physical and psychological health.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to detect changes in liver enzymes and psychological well-being in response to aerobic exercise training in patients with CHC.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Fifty CHC patients were included in two equal groups. The first group (A) received aerobic exercise training in addition to their regular medical treatment. The second group (B) received no training and only has their regular medical treatment. The program consisted of three sessions per week for three months.

RESULTS

There was a significant decrease in mean values of Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), Gamma - Glutamyltransferase (GGT), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI ) & Profile of Mood States(POMS) and increase in Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) in group (A) after treatments, but the changes in group (B) were not significant. Also, there were significant differences between mean levels of the investigated parameters in group (A) and group (B) at the end of the study.

CONCLUSION

Aerobic exercise training improves hepatic enzymes and psychological well-being in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

All-cause mortality and liver-related outcomes following successful antiviral treatment for chronic hepatitis C

BACKGROUND

Antiviral therapy for the hepatitis C virus (HCV) reduces all-cause and liver-related morbidity and mortality. Few studies are available from populations with multiple medical and psychiatric comorbidities where the impact of successful antiviral therapy might be limited.

AIM

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of sustained virologic response (SVR) on all-cause and liver-related mortality in a cohort of HCV patients treated in an integrated hepatitis/mental health clinic.

METHODS

This was a retrospective review of all patients who initiated antiviral treatment for chronic HCV between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 2009. Cox regression analysis was used to determine factors involved in all-cause mortality, liver-related events and hepatocellular carcinoma.

RESULTS

A total of 536 patients were included in the analysis. Median follow-up was 7.5 years. Liver and non-liver-related mortality occurred in 2.7 and 5.0 % of patients with SVR and in 17.8 and 6.4 % of patients without SVR. In a multivariate analysis, SVR was the only factor associated with reduced all-cause mortality (HR 0.47; 95 % CI 0.26-0.85; p = 0.012) and reduced liver-related events (HR 0.23; 95 % CI 0.08-0.66, p = 0.007). Having stage 4 liver fibrosis increased all-cause mortality (HR 2.50; 95 % CI 1.23-5.08; p = 0.011). Thrombocytopenia at baseline (HR 2.66; 95 % CI 1.22-5.79; p = 0.014) and stage 4 liver fibrosis (HR 4.87; 95 % CI 1.62-14.53; p = 0.005) increased liver-related events.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite significant medical and psychiatric comorbidities, SVR markedly reduced liver-related outcomes without a significant change in non-liver-related mortality after a median follow-up of 7.5 years.

Models of care for the management of hepatitis C virus among people who inject drugs: one size does not fit all

One of the major obstacles to hepatitis C virus (HCV) care in people who inject drugs (PWID) is the lack of treatment settings that are suitably adapted for the needs of this vulnerable population. Nevertheless, HCV treatment has been delivered successfully to PWID through various multidisciplinary models such as community-based clinics, substance abuse treatment clinics, and specialized hospital-based clinics. Models may be integrated in primary care--all under one roof in either addiction care units or general practitioner-based models--or can occur in secondary or tertiary care settings. Additional innovative models include directly observed therapy and peer-based models. A high level of acceptance of the individual life circumstances of PWID rather than rigid exclusion criteria will determine the level of success of any model of HCV management. The impact of highly potent and well-tolerated interferon-free HCV treatment regimens will remain negligible as long as access to therapy cannot be expanded to the most affected risk groups.

How to build trustworthy hepatitis C services in an opioid treatment clinic? A qualitative study of clients and health workers in a co-located setting

BACKGROUND

Given the increasing burden of hepatitis C (HCV) related liver disease, innovative health care models are required to extend the reach of HCV care and treatment. Opioid substitution treatment (OST) clinics are places of high HCV prevalence. The OST clinic is a complex environment, quite distinct to other health care settings, with punitive regulations and practices, and a client population likely to be mistrustful of systems of authority. Nonetheless, trust is widely documented as essential to effective therapeutic encounters. This paper examines what is required to develop a trustworthy service in a place, the OST clinic, described by some critics as a site of "social control".

METHODS

In-depth interviews were conducted with 57 clients and 19 staff from four NSW pilot clinics participating in the Australian ETHOS study.

RESULTS

Interview data were examined using Hall's framework of trust, involving five principle domains: fidelity, competence, honest, confidentiality and global trust. 'Honesty' was found to be key to participants' establishing trust in the co-located service and its staff. However, the clinic site was also found to be a place of rationed trust, in which the themes of OST as "ruling peoples' lives" and the fear of repercussions resulting from perceived transgressions against clinic rules, threatened to over-ride or undermine the development of trust in HCV services. Client participants described trusting health workers "to a point". They expressed concerns about the fidelity of co-located HCV and OST services and described fears of "institutionalised lies" and breaches of confidentiality. Anxieties around the latter revealed a sense of "us and them" held by some clients, one in which health workers were perceived to "stick together" by putting their own interests before those of the clients.

DISCUSSION

Although the co-location of HCV and opioid treatments makes intuitive policy sense, HCV health workers in the OST space may be seen as representatives of a deeply mistrusted system. For the effective development of a trustworthy HCV care service, policy and practice activities are required to engender trust through clearly articulated explanations of service boundaries and the promotion of "success stories" through trusted peer networks.

Characteristics and impact of methamphetamine use in patients with chronic hepatitis C

OBJECTIVES

Methamphetamine (MA) use has increased in the United States in the last 20 years and is a risk factor for hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection. The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics and HCV infection outcomes of patients with a history of MA use.

METHODS

Subjects consisted of newly entered patients in the Veterans Affairs (VA) HCV registry at a single VA medical center from January 1, 2004, to June 30, 2004, and from January 1, 2007, to June 30, 2007. Univariate and multivariate analyses related to HCV infection antiviral treatment outcomes through 2010 was performed.

RESULTS

A total of 198 consecutive eligible HCV registry patients were analyzed, and 40% had a history of MA use. Of patients with MA use history, 46% (36/79) had active use (within 6 months) at initial contact. Active MA users were significantly younger (mean age, 45.5 years), with more concomitant drug use (86%), compared with patients without MA use (mean age, 53.5 years; 42% minority; 29% other drug use). Overall, 71% of the 198 patients reported a history of problematic alcohol use, and 47% of those reported active abuse. Logistic regression analyses indicated that MA use did not significantly adversely affect antiviral treatment initiation, completion, or sustained virological response rates compared with that in patients without MA use. Active alcohol users had lower treatment initiation than patients without alcohol use.

CONCLUSIONS

MA use is common in recent US veterans with HCV infection and occurs in younger patients with polysubstance use. Prior history or active MA use does not seem to adversely affect HCV infection clinic treatment compared with that in HCV-infected patients without MA use.

Hepatitis C, mental health and equity of access to antiviral therapy: a systematic narrative review

INTRODUCTION

Access to hepatitis C (hereafter HCV) antiviral therapy has commonly excluded populations with mental health and substance use disorders because they were considered as having contraindications to treatment, particularly due to the neuropsychiatric effects of interferon that can occur in some patients. In this review we examined access to HCV interferon antiviral therapy by populations with mental health and substance use problems to identify the evidence and reasons for exclusion.

METHODS

We searched the following major electronic databases for relevant articles: PsycINFO, Medline, CINAHL, Scopus, Google Scholar. The inclusion criteria comprised studies of adults aged 18 years and older, peer-reviewed articles, date range of (2002-2012) to include articles since the introduction of pegylated interferon with ribarvirin, and English language. The exclusion criteria included articles about HCV populations with medical co-morbidities, such as hepatitis B (hereafter HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (hereafter HIV), because the clinical treatment, pathways and psychosocial morbidity differ from populations with only HCV. We identified 182 articles, and of these 13 met the eligibility criteria. Using an approach of systematic narrative review we identified major themes in the literature.

RESULTS

Three main themes were identified including: (1) pre-treatment and preparation for antiviral therapy, (2) adherence and treatment completion, and (3) clinical outcomes. Each of these themes was critically discussed in terms of access by patients with mental health and substance use co-morbidities demonstrating that current research evidence clearly demonstrates that people with HCV, mental health and substance use co-morbidities have similar clinical outcomes to those without these co-morbidities.

CONCLUSIONS

While research evidence is largely supportive of increased access to interferon by people with HCV, mental health and substance use co-morbidities, there is substantial further work required to translate evidence into clinical practice. Further to this, we conclude that a reconsideration of the appropriateness of the tertiary health service model of care for interferon management is required and exploration of the potential for increased HCV care in primary health care settings.

Report from a Viral Hepatitis Policy Forum on implementing the WHO Framework for Global Action on viral hepatitis in North Asia

BACKGROUND & AIMS

The World Health Organisation (WHO) Prevention & Control of Viral Hepatitis Infection: Framework for Global Action offers a global vision for the prevention and control of viral hepatitis. In October 2012, the Coalition to Eradicate Viral Hepatitis in Asia Pacific (CEVHAP) organised the North Asia Workshop on Viral Hepatitis in Taipei to discuss how to implement the WHO Framework in the North Asia region. This paper presents outcomes from this workshop.

METHODS

Twenty-eight representatives from local liver associations, patient organisations, and centres of excellence in Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan participated in the workshop.

FINDINGS

Priority areas for action were described along the four axes of the WHO Framework: (1) awareness, advocacy and resources; (2) evidence and data; (3) prevention of transmission; and (4) screening and treatment. Priorities included: axis 1: greater public and professional awareness, particularly among primary care physicians and local advocacy networks. Axis 2: better economic data and identifying barriers to screening and treatment uptake. Axis 3: monitoring of vaccination outcomes and targeted harm reduction strategies. Axis 4: strengthening links between hospitals and primary care providers, and secure funding of screening and treatment, including for hepatocellular carcinoma.

CONCLUSIONS

The WHO Framework provides an opportunity to develop comprehensive and cohesive policies in North Asia and the broader region. A partnership between clinical specialists, primary care physicians, policy makers, and people with or at risk of viral hepatitis is essential in shaping future policies.

Cost effectiveness of direct-acting antiviral therapy for treatment-naive patients with chronic HCV genotype 1 infection in the veterans health administration

BACKGROUND & AIMS

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest single provider of care for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the United States. We analyzed the cost effectiveness of treatment with the HCV protease inhibitors boceprevir and telaprevir in a defined managed care population of 102,851 patients with untreated chronic genotype 1 infection.

METHODS

We used a decision-analytic Markov model to examine 4 strategies: standard dual-therapy with pegylated interferon-alfa and ribavirin (PR), the combination of boceprevir and PR triple therapy, the combination of telaprevir and PR, or no antiviral treatment. A sensitivity analysis was performed. Sources of data included published rates of disease progression, the census bureau, and VHA pharmacy and hospitalization cost databases.

RESULTS

The estimated costs for treating each patient were $8000 for PR, $31,300 for boceprevir and PR, and $41,700 for telaprevir and PR. Assuming VHA treatment rates of 22% and optimal rates of sustained virologic response, PR, boceprevir and PR, and telaprevir and PR would reduce relative liver-related deaths by 5.2%, 10.9%, and 11.5%, respectively. Increasing treatment rates to 50% would reduce liver-related deaths by 12%, 24.7%, and 26.1%, respectively. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were $29,184/quality-adjusted life-years for boceprevir and PR and $44,247/quality-adjusted life-years for telaprevir and PR vs only PR. With the current 22% treatment rate, total system-wide costs to adopt boceprevir and PR or telaprevir and PR would range from $708 to $943 million.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite substantial up-front costs of treating HCV-infected patients in the VHA with PR, or telaprevir and PR, each regimen improves quality of life and extends life expectancy by reducing liver-related morbidity and mortality, and should be cost effective. Further efforts to expand access to direct-acting antiviral therapy are warranted.

A multidisciplinary support programme increases the efficiency of pegylated interferon alfa-2a and ribavirin in hepatitis C

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Adherence to antiviral treatment is important to achieve sustained virological response (SVR) in chronic hepatitis C (CHC). We evaluated the efficiency of a multidisciplinary support programme (MSP), based on published HIV treatment experience, to increase patient adherence and the efficacy of pegylated interferon alfa-2a and ribavirin in CHC.

METHODS

447 patients receiving antiviral treatment were distributed into 3 groups: control group (2003-2004, n=147), MSP group (2005-2006, n=131), and MSP-validation group (2007-2009, n=169). The MSP group included two hepatologists, two nurses, one pharmacist, one psychologist, one administrative assistant, and one psychiatrist. Cost-effectiveness analysis was performed using a Markov model.

RESULTS

Adherence and SVR rates were higher in the MSP (94.6% and 77.1%) and MSP-validation (91.7% and 74.6%) groups compared to controls (78.9% and 61.9%) (p<0.05 in all cases). SVR was higher in genotypes 1 or 4 followed by the MSP group vs. controls (67.7% vs. 48.9%, p=0.02) compared with genotypes 2 or 3 (87.7% vs. 81.4%, p=n.s.). The MSP was the main predictive factor of SVR in patients with genotype 1. The rate of adherence in patients with psychiatric disorders was higher in the MSP groups (n=95, 90.5%) compared to controls (n=28, 75.7%) (p=0.02). The cost per patient was € 13,319 in the MSP group and € 16,184 in the control group. The MSP group achieved more quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) (16.317 QALYs) than controls (15.814 QALYs) and was dominant in all genotypes.

CONCLUSIONS

MSP improves patient compliance and increases the efficiency of antiviral treatment in CHC, being cost-effective.

Antidepressant pretreatment for the prevention of interferon alfa-associated depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Depression is a major complication during treatment with interferon alfa (IFN-α).

AIM

The aim of this study was to clarify whether preemptive antidepressant treatment can reduce the incidence and severity of IFN-associated depression.

METHOD

Based on a systematic review of the literature up to July 2012, a meta-analysis of the data from 8 trials investigating patients with malignant melanoma or hepatitis C was performed. The influence of antidepressants on the incidence of major depression and depression severity was defined as the primary outcome and the influence of somatic disorder, psychiatric comorbidity, type of antidepressants, type of IFN, and possible effects on treatment outcome as secondary outcome criteria.

RESULTS

Antidepressant pretreatment reduced the overall incidence of major depression during IFN treatment in all patients (odds ratio = 0.42; 95% confidence interval, 0.26-0.68; p < 0.001, n = 589) and was associated with lower mean depression scores after 12 weeks of IFN treatment (g = -0.37; 95% confidence interval -0.59 to -0.18; p < 0.001, n = 375). For patients with hepatitis C virus infection, antidepressants reduced the incidence of major depression (odds ratio = 0.38; 95% confidence interval 0.22-0.66; p < 0.001, n = 549) and the mean depression scores after 24 weeks of IFN treatment (g = -0.50; 95% confidence interval -0.70 to -0.29; p < 0.001, n = 335). The effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors on the incidence and severity of depression were not dependent on pre-existing psychiatric disorders.

CONCLUSION

Antidepressant pretreatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors lowers the incidence and severity of IFN-associated depression in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection or malignant melanoma.

Explaining differences in hepatitis C between U.S. veterans and nonveterans in treatment for substance abuse: results from a regression decomposition

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is common among people with substance abuse histories and a burden for U.S. veterans in particular. This study compares self-reported HCV between 1,652 veterans and 48,013 nonveterans who received public-sector substance abuse treatment in Los Angeles between 2006 and 2010. A higher percentage of veterans than nonveterans reported HCV (6.5% vs. 3.8%, p < .0001). Homelessness and mental illness explained, respectively, 8.6% and 7.1% of the difference in HCV between the two groups, adjusting for other variables. Reducing homelessness and mental illness among veterans may also help reduce the excess burden of HCV in this population.

Psychiatric treatment considerations with direct acting antivirals in hepatitis C

Background

Despite recent advances in hepatitis C (HCV) treatment, specifically the addition of direct acting antivirals (DAAs), pegylated interferon-alpha remains the backbone of HCV therapy. Therefore, the impact of DAAs on the management of co-morbid psychiatric illness and neuropsychiatric sequalae remains an ongoing concern during HCV therapy. This paper provides a review of the neuropsychiatric adverse effects of DAAs and drug-drug interactions (DDIs) between DAAs and psychiatric medications.

Methods

We conducted a Pubmed search using relevant search terms and hand searched reference lists of related review articles. In addition, we searched abstracts for major hepatology conferences and contacted respective pharmaceutical companies for additional studies.

Results

Limited data is available on the neuropsychiatric adverse effects of DAAs; however, data from major clinical trials suggest that DAAs have minimal neuropsychiatric risk. DAAs can potentially interact with a variety of psychotropic agents via cytochrome P450 and p-glycoprotein interactions. Triazolam, oral midazolam, St. John’s Wort, carbamazepine and pimozide, are contraindicated with DAAs. DDIs between DAAs and antidepressants, anxiolytics, hypnotics, mood stabilizers, antipsychotics and treatments for opioid dependence are summarized.

Conclusions

Although DAAs do not add significant neuropsychiatric risk, the potential for DDIs is high. Consideration of DDIs is paramount to improving medication adherence and mitigating adverse effects during HCV therapy.

Increasing antiviral treatment through integrated hepatitis C care: a randomized multicenter trial

Most individuals infected with the hepatitis C have not received antiviral treatment, with mental health and substance abuse problems being the primary barrier. Interventions have been developed to address these barriers among HCV patients considered "high-risk" for antiviral treatment. We present the design and methods of a prospective, randomized controlled multisite trial being conducted in the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System. The study employed a parallel design and the three study sites randomized a total of 364 VA patients with HCV to either Integrated Care (IC) or Usual Care (UC). The IC intervention consisted of a mental health provider (MHP) performing a) brief interventions to address risk factors; b) collaborative consultation with the HCV treatment clinicians; and c) case management prior to and during antiviral treatment. Clinical outcomes were abstracted from patient medical records and self-report questionnaires were completed at baseline, 4-months, 16-months, and 22-months after enrollment. The primary outcome of the study was sustained viral response (SVR). Secondary clinical outcomes were HCV treatment initiation and completion rates. Other secondary outcomes included substance use, depression, PTSD symptoms, quality of life, healthcare satisfaction, and healthcare utilization. The Integrated Care intervention has the potential to transform HCV antiviral treatment by increasing the number of HCV-infected individuals that can be successfully treated.

Physical, social, and psychological consequences of treatment for hepatitis C : a community-based evaluation of patient-reported outcomes

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) antiviral therapy entails a long treatment course, as well as significant side effects that can lead to medication non-adherence and premature termination of treatment. Few large studies have comprehensively examined patient perspectives on the treatment experience, particularly the social and personal effects.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to understand how a diverse group of patients' lives were affected during HCV treatment, and to obtain suggestions about how to better support patients during treatment.

METHODS

On average, 13 months after therapy we interviewed by telephone a consecutive sample of 200 patients treated for hepatitis C with ribavirin and pegylated interferon in a comprehensive, integrated health plan in the years 2008-2010. Mixed (quantitative and qualitative) survey methods were used.

RESULTS

The response rate was 68.9 %. Mean age at treatment was 51 years; 63.0 % were men; and Black, Hispanic, Asian, and White non-Hispanic racial/ethnic groups were similarly represented. Patients whose treatment was managed by nurses or clinical pharmacists (vs. physicians) were more likely to report their providers as being part of their support system (83.5 % vs. 58.9 %; p < 0.001). Most patients reported flu-like symptoms (93.5 %) and psychiatric problems (84.5 %), and 42.5 % reported side effects lasted up to 6 months after treatment. Black patients reported discontinuing treatment prematurely due to side effects more often than non-Blacks (29.4 % vs. 12.1 %; p < 0.001). Physical side effects (69.5 % of patients), psychiatric issues (43.5 %), and employment (27.4 %) were ranked among the three most difficult challenges. Patients desired help in anticipating and arranging work modifications during treatment. Most patients rated peer support, nutritional guidance, and weekly provider contact by telephone as potentially helpful resources for future patients undergoing HCV treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Patient perspectives can help formulate and refine HCV treatment support programs. Effective support programs for diverse populations are crucial as the complexities and costs of HCV treatment increase. The call for greater support from peers, providers, and employers demands new systems such as patient-centered care teams.

Breaking down the barriers to hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment among individuals with HCV/HIV coinfection: action required at the system, provider, and patient levels

The majority of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection occurs among persons who inject drugs. Rapid improvements in responses to HCV therapy have been observed, but liver-related morbidity rates remain high, given notoriously low uptake of HCV treatment. Advances in HCV therapy will have a limited impact on the burden of HCV-related disease at the population-level unless barriers to HCV education, screening, evaluation, and treatment are addressed and treatment uptake increases. This review will outline barriers to HCV care in HCV/HIV coinfection, with a particular emphasis on persons who inject drugs, proposing strategies to enhance HCV treatment uptake and outcomes.