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Fontaine G, Presseau J, Bruneau J, Etherington C, Thomas IM, Hung JHC, van Allen Z, Patey AM, Kareem A, Mortazhejri S, Høj SB, Boyer-Legault G, Grimshaw JM. Using an intersectionality lens to explore barriers and enablers to hepatitis C point-of-care testing: a qualitative study among people who inject drugs and service providers. Int J Equity Health 2024; 23:124. [PMID: 38886803 PMCID: PMC11184812 DOI: 10.1186/s12939-024-02209-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a significant global health burden, particularly among people who inject drugs. Rapid point-of-care HCV testing has emerged as a promising approach to improve HCV detection and linkage to care in harm reduction organizations such as needle and syringe programs. The objective of this study was to use an intersectionality lens to explore the barriers and enablers to point-of-care HCV testing in a needle and syringe program. METHODS A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with clients (people who inject drugs) and service providers in a large community organization focused on the prevention of sexually transmitted and blood borne infections and harm reduction in Montreal, Canada. An intersectionality lens was used alongside the Theoretical Domains Framework to guide the formulation of research questions as well as data collection, analysis, and interpretation. RESULTS We interviewed 27 participants (15 clients, 12 providers). For clients, four themes emerged: (1) understanding and perceptions of HCV testing, (2) the role of an accessible and inclusive environment, (3) the interplay of emotions and motivations in decision-making, and (4) the impact of intersectional stigma related to HCV, behaviors, and identities. For providers, five themes emerged: (1) knowledge, skills, and confidence for HCV testing, (2) professional roles and their intersection with identity and lived experience, (3) resources and integration of services, (4) social and emotional factors, and (5) behavioral regulation and incentives for HCV testing. Intersectional stigma amplified access, emotional and informational barriers to HCV care for clients. In contrast, identity and lived experience acted as powerful enablers for providers in the provision of HCV care. CONCLUSION The application of an intersectionality lens provides a nuanced understanding of multilevel barriers and enablers to point-of-care HCV testing. Findings underscore the need for tailored strategies that address stigma, improve provider roles and communication, and foster an inclusive environment for equitable HCV care. Using an intersectionality lens in implementation research can offer valuable insights, guiding the design of equity-focused implementation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Fontaine
- Centre for Implementation Research, Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada.
- Ingram School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, 680 Rue Sherbrooke O #1800, Montréal, QC, H3A 2M7, Canada.
- Centre for Clinical Epidemiology, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Sir Mortimer B. Davis Jewish General Hospital, CIUSSS West-Central Montreal, 3755 Chem. de La Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC, H3T 1E2, Canada.
- Viral Hepatitis Clinical Research Program, Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, UNSW, Wallace Wurth Building (C27), Cnr High St & Botany St, Kensington, NSW, 2052, Australia.
| | - Justin Presseau
- Centre for Implementation Research, Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, 600 Peter Morand Crescent, Ottawa, ON, K1G 5Z3, Canada
- School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, 136 Jean-Jacques Lussier, Vanier Hall, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Julie Bruneau
- Research Centre, Université de Montréal Hospital Centre, 900 Saint Denis St, Montreal, QC, H2X 0A9, Canada
- Department of Family and Emergency Medicine, Université de Montréal, 2900, Boulevard Édouard-Montpetit, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Cole Etherington
- Centre for Implementation Research, Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada
| | - Isabella M Thomas
- Centre for Implementation Research, Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada
| | - Jui-Hsia Cleo Hung
- Centre for Implementation Research, Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, 600 Peter Morand Crescent, Ottawa, ON, K1G 5Z3, Canada
| | - Zack van Allen
- Centre for Implementation Research, Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada
- School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, 136 Jean-Jacques Lussier, Vanier Hall, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Andrea M Patey
- Centre for Implementation Research, Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, 600 Peter Morand Crescent, Ottawa, ON, K1G 5Z3, Canada
- School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen's University, Louise D Acton Building, 31 George St, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Ayesha Kareem
- Centre for Implementation Research, Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada
| | - Sameh Mortazhejri
- Centre for Implementation Research, Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, 600 Peter Morand Crescent, Ottawa, ON, K1G 5Z3, Canada
| | - Stine Bordier Høj
- Research Centre, Université de Montréal Hospital Centre, 900 Saint Denis St, Montreal, QC, H2X 0A9, Canada
| | - Geneviève Boyer-Legault
- Direction of Community Services, CACTUS Montréal, 1300 Rue Sanguinet, Montréal, QC, H2X 3E7, Canada
| | - Jeremy M Grimshaw
- Centre for Implementation Research, Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, 600 Peter Morand Crescent, Ottawa, ON, K1G 5Z3, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 45 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H8M5, Canada
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Cunningham NE, Lamb J, Staller A, Krajden M, Hogg RS, Towle A, Lima VD, Salters K. Expanding access to healthcare for people who use drugs and sex workers: hepatitis C elimination implications from a qualitative study of healthcare experiences in British Columbia, Canada. Harm Reduct J 2024; 21:75. [PMID: 38575970 PMCID: PMC10996275 DOI: 10.1186/s12954-024-00991-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major health threat in Canada. In British Columbia (BC) province, 1.6% of the population had been exposed to HCV by 2012. Prevalence and incidence of HCV are very high in populations of people who use drugs (PWUD) and sex workers (SW), who may experience unique barriers to healthcare. Consequently, they are less likely to be treated for HCV. Overcoming these barriers is critical for HCV elimination. This research sought to explore the healthcare experiences of PWUD and SW and how these experiences impact their willingness to engage in healthcare in the future, including HCV care. METHODS Interpretive Description guided this qualitative study of healthcare experiences in BC, underpinned by the Health Stigma and Discrimination framework. The study team included people with living/lived experience of drug use, sex work, and HCV. Twenty-five participants completed in-depth semi-structured interviews on their previous healthcare and HCV-related experiences. Thematic analysis was used to identify common themes. RESULTS Three major themes were identified in our analysis. First, participants reported common experiences of delay and refusal of care by healthcare providers, with many negative healthcare encounters perceived as rooted in institutional culture reflecting societal stigma. Second, participants discussed their choice to engage in or avoid healthcare. Many avoided all but emergency care following negative experiences in any kind of healthcare. Third, participants described the roles of respect, stigma, dignity, fear, and trust in communication in healthcare relationships. CONCLUSIONS Healthcare experiences shared by participants pointed to ways that better understanding and communication by healthcare providers could support positive change in healthcare encounters of PWUD and SW, who are at high risk of HCV infection. More positive healthcare encounters could lead to increased healthcare engagement which is essential for HCV elimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nance E Cunningham
- HIV/AIDS Drug Treatment Program, British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6, Canada
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 170-6371 Crescent Road, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z2, Canada
| | - Jessica Lamb
- AIDS Network Kootenay Outreach and Support Society, 209a 16 Ave N, Cranbrook, BC, V1C 5S8, Canada
- East Kootenays Network of People Who Use Drugs, 418-304 Street, Kimberley, BC, V1A 3H4, Canada
| | | | - Mel Krajden
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 170-6371 Crescent Road, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z2, Canada
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, 655 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4R4, Canada
| | - Robert S Hogg
- HIV/AIDS Drug Treatment Program, British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6, Canada
- Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Dr W, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Angela Towle
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 170-6371 Crescent Road, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z2, Canada
| | - Viviane Dias Lima
- HIV/AIDS Drug Treatment Program, British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6, Canada.
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 170-6371 Crescent Road, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z2, Canada.
| | - Kate Salters
- HIV/AIDS Drug Treatment Program, British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6, Canada
- Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Dr W, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada
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3
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Jeong D, Wong S, Karim ME, Manges AR, Makuza JD, Bartlett SR, Velásquez García HA, Luster D, Adu PA, Binka M, Yu A, Krajden M, Janjua NZ. Treatment of HCV with direct-acting antivirals on reducing mortality related to extrahepatic manifestations: a large population-based study in British Columbia, Canada. LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. AMERICAS 2024; 29:100658. [PMID: 38235369 PMCID: PMC10792760 DOI: 10.1016/j.lana.2023.100658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Background HCV infection is associated with mortality due to extrahepatic manifestations (EHM). Sustained virologic response (SVR) following direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy has been linked to decreased all-cause and liver-related mortality. However, evidence regarding the impact of DAA on EHM-related deaths is lacking. This study aimed to assess the impact of DAA and SVR on EHM-related mortality. Methods The British Columbia Hepatitis Testers Cohort comprises ∼1.7 million people tested for HCV between 1990 and 2015 and is linked with administrative health data. Among individuals diagnosed with HCV by 12/31/2020, those who received at least one DAA treatment were matched to those who never received treatment by the year of their first HCV RNA positive date. We compared three groups: treated & SVR, treated & no-SVR, and untreated; and generated EHM mortality rates and incidence curves. To account for differences in baseline characteristics, we used inverse probability of treatment weights (IPTW). IPTW-weighted multivariable cause-specific Cox regression models were adjusted for competing risk and confounders. Findings Study population included 12,815 treated (12,287 SVR, 528 no-SVR) and 12,815 untreated individuals (median follow-up 3.4 years, IQR 2.9). The untreated group had the highest EHM mortality rate (30.9 per 1000 person-years [PY], 95% CI 29.2-32.8), followed by the treated & no-SVR group (21.2 per 1000 PY, 95% CI 14.9-30.1), while the treated & SVR group had the lowest EHM mortality rate (7.9 per 1000 PY, 95% CI 7.1-8.7). In the multivariable model, EHM mortality in the treated & SVR group was significantly decreased (adjusted cause-specific hazard ratio [acsHR] 0.20, 95% CI 0.18-0.23). The treated & SVR group had significant reductions in mortality related to each of the EHMs (78-84%). Interpretation Treatment of HCV with DAA was associated with significant reductions in EHM-related mortality. These findings emphasize the critical importance of timely diagnosis and treatment of HCV to prevent deaths associated with EHM, and have important implications for clinical practice and public health. Funding This work was supported by the BC Centre for Disease Control and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) [Grant # NHC-348216, PJT-156066, and PHE-337680]. DJ has received Doctoral Research Award (#201910DF1-435705-64343) from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and Doctoral fellowship from the Canadian Network on Hepatitis C (CanHepC). CanHepC is funded by a joint initiative of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) (NHC-142832) and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Dahn Jeong
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Stanley Wong
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Mohammad Ehsanul Karim
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Centre for Advacing Health, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Amee R. Manges
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jean Damascene Makuza
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Sofia R. Bartlett
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Héctor Alexander Velásquez García
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | | | - Prince Asumadu Adu
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Mawuena Binka
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Amanda Yu
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Mel Krajden
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Naveed Zafar Janjua
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Centre for Advacing Health, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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4
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Hamill V, Wong S, Benselin J, Krajden M, Hayes PC, Mutimer D, Yu A, Dillon JF, Gelson W, Velásquez García HA, Yeung A, Johnson P, Barclay ST, Alvarez M, Toyoda H, Agarwal K, Fraser A, Bartlett S, Aldersley M, Bathgate A, Binka M, Richardson P, Morling JR, Ryder SD, MacDonald D, Hutchinson S, Barnes E, Guha IN, Irving WL, Janjua NZ, Innes H. Mortality rates among patients successfully treated for hepatitis C in the era of interferon-free antivirals: population based cohort study. BMJ 2023; 382:e074001. [PMID: 37532284 PMCID: PMC10394680 DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2022-074001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To quantify mortality rates for patients successfully treated for hepatitis C in the era of interferon-free, direct acting antivirals and compare these rates with those of the general population. DESIGN Population based cohort study. SETTING British Columbia, Scotland, and England (England cohort consists of patients with cirrhosis only). PARTICIPANTS 21 790 people who were successfully treated for hepatitis C in the era of interferon-free antivirals (2014-19). Participants were divided into three liver disease severity groups: people without cirrhosis (pre-cirrhosis), those with compensated cirrhosis, and those with end stage liver disease. Follow-up started 12 weeks after antiviral treatment completion and ended on date of death or 31 December 2019. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Crude and age-sex standardised mortality rates, and standardised mortality ratio comparing the number of deaths with that of the general population, adjusting for age, sex, and year. Poisson regression was used to identify factors associated with all cause mortality rates. RESULTS 1572 (7%) participants died during follow-up. The leading causes of death were drug related mortality (n=383, 24%), liver failure (n=286, 18%), and liver cancer (n=250, 16%). Crude all cause mortality rates (deaths per 1000 person years) were 31.4 (95% confidence interval 29.3 to 33.7), 22.7 (20.7 to 25.0), and 39.6 (35.4 to 44.3) for cohorts from British Columbia, Scotland, and England, respectively. All cause mortality was considerably higher than the rate for the general population across all disease severity groups and settings; for example, all cause mortality was three times higher among people without cirrhosis in British Columbia (standardised mortality ratio 2.96, 95% confidence interval 2.71 to 3.23; P<0.001) and more than 10 times higher for patients with end stage liver disease in British Columbia (13.61, 11.94 to 15.49; P<0.001). In regression analyses, older age, recent substance misuse, alcohol misuse, and comorbidities were associated with higher mortality rates. CONCLUSION Mortality rates among people successfully treated for hepatitis C in the era of interferon-free, direct acting antivirals are high compared with the general population. Drug and liver related causes of death were the main drivers of excess mortality. These findings highlight the need for continued support and follow-up after successful treatment for hepatitis C to maximise the impact of direct acting antivirals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Hamill
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK
- Public Health Scotland, Glasgow, UK
- Joint first authors
| | - Stanley Wong
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Joint first authors
| | - Jennifer Benselin
- NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, UK
| | - Mel Krajden
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | - David Mutimer
- Liver and Hepatology Unit, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
| | - Amanda Yu
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - John F Dillon
- Division of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, UK
| | - William Gelson
- Cambridge Liver Unit, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | - Hector A Velásquez García
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Alan Yeung
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK
- Public Health Scotland, Glasgow, UK
| | - Philip Johnson
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | | | - Maria Alvarez
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Hidenori Toyoda
- Department of Gastroenterology, Ogaki Municipal Hospital, Ogaki, Japan
| | - Kosh Agarwal
- Institute of Liver Studies, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Andrew Fraser
- Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen, UK
- Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, UK
| | - Sofia Bartlett
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Mark Aldersley
- Leeds Liver Unit, St James's University Hospital, Leeds, UK
| | | | - Mawuena Binka
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Paul Richardson
- Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust, Liverpool, UK
| | - Joanne R Morling
- NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, UK
- Lifespan and Population Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Stephen D Ryder
- NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Douglas MacDonald
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Sharon Hutchinson
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK
- Public Health Scotland, Glasgow, UK
| | - Eleanor Barnes
- Nuffield Department of Medicine and the Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Indra Neil Guha
- NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, UK
| | - William L Irving
- NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, UK
| | - Naveed Z Janjua
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, St Paul's Hospital Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Hamish Innes
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK
- Public Health Scotland, Glasgow, UK
- Lifespan and Population Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
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Antoniou T, Pritlove C, Shearer D, Tadrous M, Shah H, Gomes T. Accessing hepatitis C direct acting antivirals among people living with hepatitis C: a qualitative study. Int J Equity Health 2023; 22:112. [PMID: 37280588 PMCID: PMC10243011 DOI: 10.1186/s12939-023-01924-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatitis C is curable with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). However, treatment uptake remains low among marginalized populations such as people who inject drugs. We sought to understand challenges to treatment uptake with DAAs among people living with hepatitis C and compare treatment experiences between people who do and do not inject prescription and/or unregulated drugs. METHODS We conducted a qualitative study using focus groups with 23 adults aged 18 years and over who completed DAA treatment or were about to begin such treatment at the time of the study. Participants were recruited from hepatitis C treatment clinics across Toronto, Ontario. We drew upon stigma theory to interpret participants' accounts. RESULTS Following analysis and interpretation, we generated five theoretically-informed themes characterizing the experiences of individuals accessing DAAs: "being 'worthy' of the cure", "spatially enacted stigma", "countering social and structural vulnerability: the importance of peers", "identity disruption and contagion: attaining a 'social cure'" and "challenging stigma with population-based screening". Overall, our findings suggest that structural stigma generated and reproduced through healthcare encounters limits access to DAAs among people who inject drugs. Peer-based programs and population-based screening were proposed by participants as mechanisms for countering stigma within health care settings and 'normalizing' hepatitis C among the general population. CONCLUSIONS Despite the availability of curative therapies, access to such treatment for people who inject drugs is limited by stigma enacted in and structured within healthcare encounters. Developing novel, low-threshold delivery programs that remove power differentials and attend to the social and structural determinants of health and reinfection are needed to facilitate further scale up of DAAs and support the goal of eradicating hepatitis C as a public health threat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tony Antoniou
- Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Unity Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Unity Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Cheryl Pritlove
- Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Unity Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Dana Shearer
- Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Unity Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mina Tadrous
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Women's College Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Hemant Shah
- Toronto Centre for Liver Disease, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Tara Gomes
- Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Unity Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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6
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Popovic N, Williams A, Périnet S, Campeau L, Yang Q, Zhang F, Yan P, Feld J, Janjua N, Klein M, Krajden M, Wong W, Cox J. National Hepatitis C estimates: Incidence, prevalence, undiagnosed proportion and treatment, Canada, 2019. CANADA COMMUNICABLE DISEASE REPORT = RELEVE DES MALADIES TRANSMISSIBLES AU CANADA 2022; 48:540-549. [PMID: 38222827 PMCID: PMC10786238 DOI: 10.14745/ccdr.v48i1112a07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Background Estimates of the number of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are important for monitoring efforts aimed at preventing disease transmission, especially following the introduction of a highly effective treatment. This report provides updated estimates of HCV incidence, prevalence, undiagnosed proportion and treatment in Canada. Methods A combination of back calculation modelling and a modified version of the workbook method were used to estimate the incidence and prevalence of anti-HCV positive persons, the prevalence of chronic HCV infection and the undiagnosed proportion. The number of people treated for chronic HCV was estimated using administrative pharmaceutical data. Results An estimated 9,470 new infections occurred in 2019, corresponding to an incidence rate of 25 per 100,000 population, a 7.7% decrease since 2015. The estimated prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies in the Canadian population was 1.03% (plausible range: 0.83%-1.38%), and the estimated prevalence of chronic HCV was 0.54% (plausible range: 0.40%-0.79%). The overall proportion of anti-HCV positive persons who were undiagnosed was estimated at 24% of all infections, with individuals born between 1945 and 1975 being the priority population the most likely to be undiagnosed. An estimated 74,500 people with chronic HCV have been treated since the introduction of direct-acting antivirals in 2014. Conclusion Estimates of HCV incidence and prevalence are key metrics to guide interventions and resource allocation. While our estimates show that HCV incidence has decreased in Canada in recent years and treatment of chronic HCV has continued to increase, ongoing efforts are required to reduce the burden of HCV in Canada.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nashira Popovic
- Centre for Communicable Diseases and Infection Control, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, ON
| | - Anson Williams
- Centre for Communicable Diseases and Infection Control, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, ON
| | - Simone Périnet
- Centre for Communicable Diseases and Infection Control, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, ON
| | - Laurence Campeau
- Centre for Communicable Diseases and Infection Control, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, ON
| | - Qiuying Yang
- Centre for Communicable Diseases and Infection Control, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, ON
| | - Fan Zhang
- Centre for Communicable Diseases and Infection Control, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, ON
| | - Ping Yan
- Centre for Communicable Diseases and Infection Control, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, ON
| | - Jordan Feld
- Toronto Centre for Liver Disease, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON
| | - Naveed Janjua
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC
| | - Marina Klein
- Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Center, Montréal, QC
| | - Mel Krajden
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC
| | - William Wong
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Kitchener, ON
| | - Joseph Cox
- Centre for Communicable Diseases and Infection Control, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, ON
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Kwan TH, Wong BCK, Wong KH, Lee SS. Hepatitis C Co-infection in People Living With HIV—Epidemiologic Differences Between Men Who Have Sex With Men MSM and Non-MSM. Front Public Health 2022; 10:925600. [PMID: 35719672 PMCID: PMC9204175 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.925600] [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: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
People living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) constitute a unique group at higher risk of hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection. In light of the diverse profiles of PLHIV, we differentiated between men who have sex with men (MSM) and non-MSM in the characterization of the epidemiologic features of HIV/HCV co-infection. Clinical data of HCV co-infection patients from the HIV specialist clinic in Hong Kong were retrospectively collected in conjunction with their HIV subtypes and HCV genotypes. Logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with HIV/HCV co-infection in MSM. Survival analysis was performed to compare the time lag between HIV and HCV diagnoses between two groups. Latent class analysis was conducted to describe the features of different classes of co-infections. Four classes of HIV/HCV co-infections were identified: local MSM acquiring HCV after HIV diagnosis, local MSM with HIV/HCV co-diagnoses, local non-MSM, and non-local non-MSM. Accounting for over half of the co-infections, MSM were more likely to be younger, local residents, and associated with HCV genotype 3, compared to genotypes 1 and 6 in non-MSM. Overall, MSM had higher odds of achieving HIV viral suppression and co-diagnosing with a sexually transmitted infection at HCV diagnosis, and having a longer time lag between HIV and HCV diagnoses. Drug injection accounted for a majority of non-MSM HCV infection. There were distinctive epidemiologic differences between MSM and non-MSM co-infected with HIV and HCV, the characteristics of which could inform intervention strategies for achieving HCV micro-elimination.
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Lanièce Delaunay C, Maheu-Giroux M, Marathe G, Saeed S, Martel-Laferrière V, Cooper CL, Walmsley S, Cox J, Wong A, Klein MB. Gaps in hepatitis C virus prevention and care for HIV-hepatitis C virus co-infected people who inject drugs in Canada. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2022; 103:103627. [PMID: 35218989 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2022.103627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND People who inject drugs (PWID) living with HIV are a priority population for eliminating hepatitis C virus (HCV) as a public health threat. Maximizing access to HCV prevention and treatment strategies are key steps towards elimination. We aimed to evaluate engagement in harm reduction programs and HCV treatment, and to describe injection practices among HIV-HCV co-infected PWID in Canada from 2003 to 2019. METHODS We included Canadian Coinfection Cohort study participants who reported injecting drugs between 2003 and 2019 in Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia, Canada. We investigated temporal trends in HCV treatment uptake, efficacy, and effectiveness; injection practices; and engagement in harm reduction programs in three time periods based on HCV treatment availability: 1) interferon/ribavirin (2003-2010); 2) first-generation direct acting antivirals (DAAs) (2011-2013); 3) second-generation DAAs (2014-2019). Harm reduction services assessed included needle and syringe programs (NSP), opioid agonist therapy (OAT), and supervised injection sites (SIS). RESULTS Median age of participants (N = 1,077) at cohort entry was 44 years; 69% were males. Province-specific HCV treatment rates increased among HCV RNA-positive PWID, reaching 16 to 31 per 100 person-years in 2014-2019. Treatment efficacy improved from a 50 to 70% range in 2003-2010 to >90% across provinces in 2014-2019. Drug injecting patterns among active PWID varied by province, with an overall decrease in cocaine injection frequency and increasing opioid injections. In the most recent time period (2014-2019), needle/syringe sharing was reported at 8-22% of visits. Gaps remained in engagement in harm reduction programs: NSP use decreased (58-70% of visits), OAT engagement among opioid users was low (8-26% of visits), and participants rarely used SIS (1-15% of visits). CONCLUSION HCV treatment uptake and outcomes have improved among HIV-HCV coinfected PWID. Yet, this population remains exposed to drug-related harms, highlighting the need to tie HCV elimination strategies with enhanced harm reduction programs to improve overall health for this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Lanièce Delaunay
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, School of Population and Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, 1020 Avenue des Pins Ouest, H3A 1A2, Montreal QC, Canada; Centre for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, 5252 Boulevard de Maisonneuve Ouest, H4A 3S5, Montreal QC, Canada
| | - Mathieu Maheu-Giroux
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, School of Population and Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, 1020 Avenue des Pins Ouest, H3A 1A2, Montreal QC, Canada
| | - Gayatri Marathe
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, School of Population and Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, 1020 Avenue des Pins Ouest, H3A 1A2, Montreal QC, Canada; Centre for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, 5252 Boulevard de Maisonneuve Ouest, H4A 3S5, Montreal QC, Canada
| | - Sahar Saeed
- Institute for Public Health, Washington University, 600 S Taylor Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110, United States of America
| | - Valérie Martel-Laferrière
- Département de Médecine Spécialisée et de Médecine des Laboratoires, Centre Hospitalier de L'Université de Montréal, 264 Boulevard René-Lévesque Est, H2×1P1, Montreal QC, Canada; Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de L'Université de Montréal, 900 Rue Saint-Denis, H2×0A9, Montreal QC, Canada; Département de Microbiologie, Maladies Infectieuses, et Immunologie, Université de Montréal, 2900 Boulevard Édouard-Monpetit, H3T 1J4, Montreal QC, Canada
| | - Curtis L Cooper
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 725 Parkdale Avenue, K1Y 4E9, Ottawa ON, Canada
| | - Sharon Walmsley
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 6 Queen's Park Crescent West, M5S 3H2, Toronto ON, Canada; University Health Network, University of Toronto, 190 Elizabeth Street, M5G 2C4, Toronto ON, Canada
| | - Joseph Cox
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, School of Population and Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, 1020 Avenue des Pins Ouest, H3A 1A2, Montreal QC, Canada; Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease and Chronic Viral Illness Service, McGill University Health Centre, 1001 Boulevard Décarie, H4A 3J1, Montreal QC, Canada
| | - Alexander Wong
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 107 Wiggins Road, S7N 5E5, Saskatoon SK, Canada
| | - Marina B Klein
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, School of Population and Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, 1020 Avenue des Pins Ouest, H3A 1A2, Montreal QC, Canada; Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease and Chronic Viral Illness Service, McGill University Health Centre, 1001 Boulevard Décarie, H4A 3J1, Montreal QC, Canada; Canadian HIV Trials Network, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, 588-1081 Burrard Street, V6Z 1Y6, Vancouver BC, Canada.
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Darvishian M, Tang T, Wong S, Binka M, Yu A, Alvarez M, Alexander Velásquez García H, Adu PA, Jeong D, Bartlett S, Karamouzian M, Damascene Makuza J, Wong J, Ramji A, Woods R, Krajden M, Janjua N, Bhatti P. Chronic hepatitis C infection is associated with higher incidence of extrahepatic cancers in a Canadian population based cohort. Front Oncol 2022; 12:983238. [PMID: 36313680 PMCID: PMC9609415 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.983238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chronic infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an established risk factor for liver cancer. Although several epidemiologic studies have evaluated the risk of extrahepatic malignancies among people living with HCV, due to various study limitations, results have been heterogeneous. METHODS We used data from the British Columbia Hepatitis Testers Cohort (BC-HTC), which includes all individuals tested for HCV in the Province since 1990. We assessed hepatic and extrahepatic cancer incidence using data from BC Cancer Registry. Standardized incidence ratios (SIR) comparing to the general population of BC were calculated for each cancer site from 1990 to 2016. RESULTS In total, 56,823 and 1,207,357 individuals tested positive and negative for HCV, respectively. Median age at cancer diagnosis among people with and without HCV infection was 59 (interquartile range (IQR): 53-65) and 63 years (IQR: 54-74), respectively. As compared to people living without HCV, a greater proportion of people living with HCV-infection were men (66.7% vs. 44.7%, P-value <0.0001), had comorbidities (25.0% vs. 16.3%, P-value <0.0001) and were socially deprived (35.9% vs. 25.0%, P-value <0.0001). The SIRs for liver (SIR 33.09; 95% CI 29.80-36.39), anal (SIR: 2.57; 95% CI 1.52-3.63), oesophagus (SIR: 2.00; 95% CI 1.17-2.82), larynx (SIR: 3.24; 95% CI 1.21-5.27), lung (SIR: 2.20; 95% CI 1.82-2.58), and oral (SIR: 1.78; 95% CI 1.33-2.23) cancers were significantly higher among individuals living with HCV. The SIRs for bile duct and pancreatic cancers were significantly elevated among both individuals living with (SIR; 95% CI: 2.20; 1.27-3.14; 2.18; 1.57-2.79, respectively) and without HCV (SIR; 95% CI: 2.12; 1.88-2.36; 1.20; 1.11-1.28, respectively). DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION In this study, HCV infection was associated with increased incidence of several extrahepatic cancers. The elevated incidence of multiple cancers among negative HCV testers highlights the potential contributions of screening bias and increased cancer risks associated with factors driving acquisition of infection among this population compared to the general population. Early HCV diagnosis and treatment as well as public health prevention strategies are needed to reduce the risk of extrahepatic cancers among people living with HCV and potentially populations who are at higher risk of HCV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Darvishian
- Cancer Prevention, BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Cancer Control Research, BC Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Maryam Darvishian,
| | - Terry Tang
- Cancer Prevention, BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Stanley Wong
- Clinical Prevention Services, BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Mawuena Binka
- Clinical Prevention Services, BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Amanda Yu
- Clinical Prevention Services, BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Maria Alvarez
- Clinical Prevention Services, BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | | | - Prince Asumadu Adu
- Clinical Prevention Services, BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Dahn Jeong
- Clinical Prevention Services, BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Sofia Bartlett
- Clinical Prevention Services, BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Mohammad Karamouzian
- Clinical Prevention Services, BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Surveillance Research Center, and World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Surveillance, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Jean Damascene Makuza
- Clinical Prevention Services, BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jason Wong
- Clinical Prevention Services, BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Alnoor Ramji
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Ryan Woods
- Cancer Prevention, BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Mel Krajden
- Clinical Prevention Services, BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Naveed Janjua
- Clinical Prevention Services, BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Parveen Bhatti
- Cancer Prevention, BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Cancer Control Research, BC Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Impact of direct-acting antivirals for HCV on mortality in a large population-based cohort study. J Hepatol 2021; 75:1049-1057. [PMID: 34097994 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2021.05.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS We evaluated the effect of direct-acting antiviral (DAA)-induced sustained virologic response (SVR) on all-cause, liver- and drug-related mortality in a population-based cohort in British Columbia, Canada. METHODS We used data from the British Columbia Hepatitis Testers Cohort, which includes people tested for HCV since 1990, linked with data on medical visits, hospitalizations, prescription drugs and mortality. We followed people who received DAAs and people who did not receive any HCV treatment to death or December 31, 2019. We used inverse probability of treatment weighting to balance the baseline profile of treated and untreated individuals and performed multivariable proportional hazard modelling to assess the effect of DAAs on mortality. RESULTS Our cohort comprised 10,851 people treated with DAAs (SVR 10,426 [96%], no-SVR: 425) and 10,851 matched untreated individuals. Median follow-up time was 2.2 years (IQR 1.3-3.6; maximum 6.2). The all-cause mortality rate was 19.5/1,000 person-years (PY) among the SVR group (deaths = 552), 86.5/1,000 PY among the no-SVR group (deaths = 96), and 99.2/1,000 PY among the untreated group (deaths = 2,133). In the multivariable model, SVR was associated with significant reduction in all-cause (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.19; 95% CI 0.17-0.21), liver- (adjusted subdistribution HR [asHR] 0.22, 95% CI 0.18-0.27) and drug-related mortality (asHR 0.26, 95% CI 0.21-0.32) compared to no-treatment. Older age and cirrhosis were associated with higher risk of liver-related mortality while younger age, injection drug use (IDU), problematic alcohol use and HIV/HBV co-infections were associated with a higher risk of drug-related mortality. CONCLUSIONS DAA treatment is associated with a substantial reduction in all-cause, liver- and drug-related mortality. The association of IDU and related syndemic factors with a higher risk of drug-related mortality calls for an integrated social support, addiction, and HCV care approach among people who inject drugs. LAY SUMMARY We assessed the effect of treatment of hepatitis C virus infection with direct-acting antiviral drugs on deaths from all causes, liver disease and drug use. We found that treatment with direct-acting antiviral drugs is associated with substantial lowering in risk of death from all causes, liver disease and drug use among people with hepatitis C virus infection.
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11
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Chahal D, Marquez V, Hussaini T, Kim P, Chung SW, Segedi M, Chartier-Plante S, Scudamore CH, Erb SR, Salh B, Yoshida EM. End stage liver disease etiology & transplantation referral outcomes of major ethnic groups in British Columbia, Canada: A cohort study. Medicine (Baltimore) 2021; 100:e27436. [PMID: 34678872 PMCID: PMC8542110 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000027436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver disease etiology and transplantation outcomes may vary by ethnicity. We aimed to determine if disparities exist in our province.We reviewed the provincial database for liver transplant referrals. We stratified cohorts by ethnicity and analyzed disease etiology and outcomes.Four thousand nine hundred sixteen referrals included 220 South Asians, 413 Asians, 235 First Nations (Indigenous), and 2725 Caucasians. Predominant etiologies by ethnicity included alcohol (27.4%) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) (8.8%) in South Asians, hepatitis B (45.5%) and malignancy (13.9%) in Asians, primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) (33.2%) and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) (10.8%) in First Nations, and hepatitis C (35.9%) in Caucasians. First Nations had lowest rate of transplantation (30.6%, P = .01) and highest rate of waitlist death (10.6%, P = .03). Median time from referral to transplantation (268 days) did not differ between ethnicities (P = .47). Likelihood of transplantation increased with lower body mass index (BMI) (hazard ratio [HR] 0.99, P = .03), higher model for end stage liver disease (MELD) (HR 1.02, P < .01), or fulminant liver failure (HR 9.47, P < .01). Median time from referral to ineligibility status was 170 days, and shorter time was associated with increased MELD (HR 1.01, P < .01), increased age (HR 1.01, P < .01), fulminant liver failure (HR 2.56, P < .01) or South Asian ethnicity (HR 2.54, P < .01). Competing risks analysis revealed no differences in time to transplant (P = .66) or time to ineligibility (P = .91) but confirmed increased waitlist death for First Nations (P = .04).We have noted emerging trends such as alcohol related liver disease and PSC in South Asians. First Nations have increased autoimmune liver disease, lower transplantation rates and higher waitlist deaths. These data have significance for designing ethnicity specific interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daljeet Chahal
- Division of Gastroenterology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Vladimir Marquez
- Division of Gastroenterology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Trana Hussaini
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Peter Kim
- Department of Surgery, Section of Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Surgery, University of British Columbia and the Liver Transplant Program, Vancouver General Hospital, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Stephen W. Chung
- Department of Surgery, Section of Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Surgery, University of British Columbia and the Liver Transplant Program, Vancouver General Hospital, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Maja Segedi
- Department of Surgery, Section of Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Surgery, University of British Columbia and the Liver Transplant Program, Vancouver General Hospital, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Stephanie Chartier-Plante
- Department of Surgery, Section of Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Surgery, University of British Columbia and the Liver Transplant Program, Vancouver General Hospital, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Charles H. Scudamore
- Department of Surgery, Section of Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Surgery, University of British Columbia and the Liver Transplant Program, Vancouver General Hospital, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Siegfried R. Erb
- Division of Gastroenterology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Baljinder Salh
- Division of Gastroenterology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Eric M. Yoshida
- Division of Gastroenterology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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12
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Pearce ME, Bartlett SR, Yu A, Lamb J, Reitz C, Wong S, Alvarez M, Binka M, Velásquez Garcia H, Jeong D, Clementi E, Adu P, Samji H, Wong J, Buxton J, Yoshida E, Elwood C, Sauve L, Pick N, Krajden M, Janjua NZ. Women in the 2019 hepatitis C cascade of care: findings from the British Columbia Hepatitis Testers cohort study. BMC Womens Health 2021; 21:330. [PMID: 34511082 PMCID: PMC8436483 DOI: 10.1186/s12905-021-01470-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Women living with hepatitis C virus (HCV) are rarely addressed in research and may be overrepresented within key populations requiring additional support to access HCV care and treatment. We constructed the HCV care cascade among people diagnosed with HCV in British Columbia, Canada, as of 2019 to compare progress in care and treatment and to assess sex/gender gaps in HCV treatment access. METHODS The BC Hepatitis Testers Cohort includes 1.7 million people who tested for HCV, HIV, reported cases of hepatitis B, and active tuberculosis in BC from 2000 to 2019. Test results were linked to medical visits, hospitalizations, cancers, prescription drugs, and mortality data. Six HCV care cascade stages were identified: (1) antibody diagnosed; (2) RNA tested; (3) RNA positive; (4) genotyped; (5) initiated treatment; and (6) achieved sustained virologic response (SVR). HCV care cascade results were assessed for women, and an 'inverse' cascade was created to assess gaps, including not being RNA tested, genotyped, or treatment initiated, stratified by sex. RESULTS In 2019, 52,638 people with known sex were anti-HCV positive in BC; 37% (19,522) were women. Confirmatory RNA tests were received by 86% (16,797/19,522) of anti-HCV positive women and 83% (27,353/33,116) of men. Among people who had been genotyped, 68% (6756/10,008) of women and 67% (12,640/18,828) of men initiated treatment, with 94% (5023/5364) of women and 92% (9147/9897) of men achieving SVR. Among the 3252 women and 6188 men not yet treated, higher proportions of women compared to men were born after 1975 (30% vs. 21%), had a mental health diagnosis (42% vs. 34%) and had used injection drugs (50% vs. 45%). Among 1619 women and 2780 men who had used injection drugs and were not yet treated, higher proportions of women than men used stimulants (64% vs. 57%), and opiates (67% vs. 60%). CONCLUSIONS Women and men appear to be equally engaged into the HCV care cascade; however, women with concurrent social and health conditions are being left behind. Treatment access may be improved with approaches that meet the needs of younger women, those with mental health diagnoses, and women who use drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margo E Pearce
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, BC, Canada.
| | - Sofia R Bartlett
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UBC, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Amanda Yu
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jess Lamb
- AIDS Network Kootenay Outreach and Support Society, Kimberly, BC, Canada
| | - Cheryl Reitz
- East Kootenay Network of People who Use Drugs, Kimberly, BC, Canada
- British Columbia Hepatitis Network Society, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Stanley Wong
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Maria Alvarez
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Mawuena Binka
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | | | - Dahn Jeong
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Emilia Clementi
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Prince Adu
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Hasina Samji
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jason Wong
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jane Buxton
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Eric Yoshida
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, UBC, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Chelsea Elwood
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UBC, Vancouver, Canada
- BC Women's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Laura Sauve
- BC Women's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, UBC, Vancouver, Canada
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Neora Pick
- BC Women's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, UBC, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Mel Krajden
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UBC, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Naveed Z Janjua
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, BC, Canada
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13
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Jeong D, Karim ME, Wong S, Wilton J, Butt ZA, Binka M, Adu PA, Bartlett S, Pearce M, Clementi E, Yu A, Alvarez M, Samji H, Velásquez García HA, Abdia Y, Krajden M, Janjua NZ. Impact of HCV infection and ethnicity on incident type 2 diabetes: findings from a large population-based cohort in British Columbia. BMJ Open Diabetes Res Care 2021; 9:9/1/e002145. [PMID: 34099439 PMCID: PMC8186745 DOI: 10.1136/bmjdrc-2021-002145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Increasing evidence indicates that chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with higher risk of diabetes. Previous studies showed ethnic disparities in the disease burden of diabetes, with increased risk in Asian population. We described the incidence of type 2 diabetes related to HCV infection and assessed the concurrent impact of HCV infection and ethnicity on the risk of diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS In British Columbia Hepatitis Testers Cohort, individuals were followed from HCV diagnosis to the earliest of (1) incident type 2 diabetes, (2) death or (3) end of the study (December 31, 2015). Study population included 847 021 people. Diabetes incidence rates in people with and without HCV were computed. Propensity scores (PS) analysis was used to assess the impact of HCV infection on newly acquired diabetes. PS-matched dataset included 117 184 people. We used Fine and Gray multivariable subdistributional hazards models to assess the effect of HCV and ethnicity on diabetes while adjusting for confounders and competing risks. RESULTS Diabetes incidence rates were higher among people with HCV infection than those without. The highest diabetes incidence rate was in South Asians with HCV (14.7/1000 person-years, 95% CI 12.87 to 16.78). Compared with Others, South Asians with and without HCV and East Asians with HCV had a greater risk of diabetes. In the multivariable stratified analysis, HCV infection was associated with increased diabetes risk in all subgroups: East Asians, adjusted HR (aHR) 3.07 (95% CI 2.43 to 3.88); South Asians, aHR 2.62 (95% CI 2.10 to 3.26); and Others, aHR 2.28 (95% CI 2.15 to 2.42). CONCLUSIONS In a large population-based linked administrative health data, HCV infection was associated with higher diabetes risk, with a greater relative impact in East Asians. South Asians had the highest risk of diabetes. These findings highlight the need for care and screening for HCV-related chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes among people affected by HCV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dahn Jeong
- School of Population and Public Health, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Clinical Prevention Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Mohammad Ehsanul Karim
- School of Population and Public Health, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, St Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Stanley Wong
- Clinical Prevention Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - James Wilton
- Clinical Prevention Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Zahid Ahmad Butt
- Clinical Prevention Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mawuena Binka
- Clinical Prevention Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Prince Asumadu Adu
- School of Population and Public Health, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Clinical Prevention Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sofia Bartlett
- Clinical Prevention Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Margo Pearce
- School of Population and Public Health, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Clinical Prevention Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Emilia Clementi
- School of Population and Public Health, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Clinical Prevention Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Amanda Yu
- Clinical Prevention Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Maria Alvarez
- Clinical Prevention Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Hasina Samji
- Clinical Prevention Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | - Younathan Abdia
- School of Population and Public Health, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Clinical Prevention Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Mel Krajden
- Clinical Prevention Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Naveed Zafar Janjua
- School of Population and Public Health, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Clinical Prevention Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, St Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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14
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Binka M, Butt ZA, McKee G, Darvishian M, Cook D, Wong S, Yu A, Alvarez M, Samji H, Wong J, Krajden M, Janjua NZ. Differences in risk factors for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and human immunodeficiency virus infection by ethnicity: A large population-based cohort study in British Columbia, Canada. Int J Infect Dis 2021; 106:246-253. [PMID: 33771673 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.03.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Addressing the needs of ethnic minorities will be key to finding undiagnosed individuals living with hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). To inform screening initiatives in British Columbia (BC), Canada, the factors associated with HBV and/or HCV and/or HIV infection among different ethnic groups within a large population-based cohort were assessed. METHODS Persons diagnosed with HBV, HCV, or HIV in BC between 1990 and 2015 were grouped as East Asian, South Asian, Other Visible Minority (African, Central Asian, Latin American, Pacific Islander, West Asian, unknown ethnicity), and Not a Visible Minority, using a validated name-recognition software. Factors associated with infection within each ethnic group were assessed with multivariable multinomial logistic regression models. RESULTS Participants included 202 521 East Asians, 126 070 South Asians, 65 210 Other Visible Minorities, and 1 291 561 people who were Not a Visible Minority, 14.4%, 3.3%, 4.5%, and 6.3% of whom had HBV and/or HCV and/or HIV infections, respectively. Injection drug use was most prevalent among infection-positive people who were Not a Visible Minority (22.1%), and was strongly associated with HCV monoinfection, HBV/HCV coinfection, and HCV/HIV coinfection, but not with HBV monoinfection among visible ethnic minorities. Extreme material deprivation and social deprivation were more prevalent than injection drug use or problematic alcohol use among visible ethnic minorities. CONCLUSIONS Risk factor distributions varied among persons diagnosed with HBV and/or HCV and/or HIV of differing ethnic backgrounds, with lower substance use prevalence among visible minority populations. This highlights the need for tailored approaches to infection screening among different ethnic groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mawuena Binka
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
| | - Zahid Ahmad Butt
- School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Geoffrey McKee
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Maryam Darvishian
- British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Darrel Cook
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Stanley Wong
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Amanda Yu
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Maria Alvarez
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Hasina Samji
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jason Wong
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Mel Krajden
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Naveed Zafar Janjua
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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15
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Schulte B, Schmidt CS, Strada L, Rosenkranz M, Schäfer I, Verthein U, Reimer J. Hepatitis C Virus Prevalence and Incidence in a Large Nationwide Sample of Patients in Opioid Substitution Treatment in Germany: A Prospective Cohort Study. Clin Infect Dis 2021; 70:2199-2205. [PMID: 31631215 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciz661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2019] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is highly prevalent among people who inject drugs (PWID). Accurate data on HCV prevalence and incidence rates among patients receiving opioid substitution treatment (OST) are needed to estimate the current and future burden of HCV infections in this high-risk population. METHODS Baseline data from routine care were collected between October 2014 and June 2016 from randomly selected OST facilities in Germany. The primary outcome measure was the HCV status (antibody and RNA prevalence). Patients who were HCV antibody-negative at baseline were followed up after 12 months to calculate the HCV incidence rate. RESULTS Sixty-three facilities from 14 German Federal States provided clinical data for a total of 2466 OST patients. HCV antibody and HCV RNA prevalence were 58.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 56.8%-60.8%) and 27.3% (95% CI, 25.5%-29.2%), respectively. At baseline, a total of 528 patients (21.4%) had previously undergone antiviral treatment. Moreover, lower HCV RNA prevalence was associated with female gender, employment, younger age, and shorter duration of OST and opioid dependence. The HCV incidence rate was 2.5 cases per 100 person-years. CONCLUSIONS The low HCV RNA prevalence and HCV incidence rates confirm that OST in Germany is an effective setting both for treating chronic HCV infections and for preventing new infections among PWID. Scaling up the provision of OST, HCV testing, and HCV treatment among OST patients are important public health strategies for reducing HCV infections in this high-risk population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernd Schulte
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Addiction Research, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf
| | | | - Lisa Strada
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Addiction Research, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf
| | - Moritz Rosenkranz
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Addiction Research, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf
| | - Ingo Schäfer
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Addiction Research, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf
| | - Uwe Verthein
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Addiction Research, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf
| | - Jens Reimer
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Addiction Research, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf.,Gesundheit Nord, Bremen, Germany
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16
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Samji H, Yu A, Wong S, Wilton J, Binka M, Alvarez M, Bartlett S, Pearce M, Adu P, Jeong D, Clementi E, Butt Z, Buxton J, Gilbert M, Krajden M, Janjua NZ. Drug-related deaths in a population-level cohort of people living with and without hepatitis C virus in British Columbia, Canada. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2020; 86:102989. [PMID: 33091735 PMCID: PMC7569420 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2020.102989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The majority of new HCV infections in Canada occur in people who inject drugs. Thus, while curative direct antiviral agents (DAAs) herald a promising new era in hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment, improving the lives and wellbeing of people living with HCV (PLHCV) must be considered in the context of reducing overdose-related harms and with a syndemic lens. We measure drug-related deaths (DRDs) among HCV-negative people and PLHCV in British Columbia (BC), Canada, and the impact of potent contaminants like fentanyl on deaths. METHODS We identified DRDs among PLHCV and HCV-negative individuals from 2010 to 2018 in the BC Hepatitis Testers Cohort, a population-based dataset of ~1.7 million British Columbians comprising comprehensive administrative and clinical data. We estimated annual standardized liver- and drug-related mortality rates per 100,000 person-years (PY) and described the contribution of specific drugs, including fentanyl and its analogues, implicated in DRDs over time. RESULTS DRDs constituted 20.1% of deaths among PLHCV and 4.7% of deaths among HCV-negative individuals; a 4.3-fold (95% confidence interval: 4.0-4.5) difference. Drug-related mortality overtook liver-related mortality for PLHCV in 2015 and HCV-negative individuals in 2016 and rose from 241.7 to 436.5 per 100,000 PY from 2010 to 2018 amongPLHCV and from 20.0 to 57.1 per 100,000 PY for HCV-negative individuals over the same period. The proportion of deaths attributable to drugs among PLHCV and HCV-negative individuals increased from 15.1% to 26.1% and 3.1% to 8.0%, in 2010 and 2018, respectively. The proportion of DRDs attributed solely to synthetic opioids such as fentanyl averaged across both groups increased from 2.1% in 2010 to 69.6% in 2017. CONCLUSION Steep drug-related mortality increases among PLHCV and HCV-negative individuals over the last decade highlight the urgent need to address overdose-related drivers and harms in these populations using an integrated care approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hasina Samji
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Dr, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, V5A 1S6; British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, 655 West 12(th) Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V5Z 4R4.
| | - Amanda Yu
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, 655 West 12(th) Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V5Z 4R4
| | - Stanley Wong
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, 655 West 12(th) Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V5Z 4R4
| | - James Wilton
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, 655 West 12(th) Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V5Z 4R4
| | - Mawuena Binka
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, 655 West 12(th) Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V5Z 4R4
| | - Maria Alvarez
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, 655 West 12(th) Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V5Z 4R4
| | - Sofia Bartlett
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, 655 West 12(th) Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V5Z 4R4; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, BC V6T 2B5
| | - Margo Pearce
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, 655 West 12(th) Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V5Z 4R4; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 E Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6T 1Z3
| | - Prince Adu
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, 655 West 12(th) Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V5Z 4R4; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 E Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6T 1Z3
| | - Dahn Jeong
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, 655 West 12(th) Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V5Z 4R4; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 E Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6T 1Z3
| | - Emilia Clementi
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, 655 West 12(th) Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V5Z 4R4; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 E Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6T 1Z3
| | - Zahid Butt
- School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2L 3G1
| | - Jane Buxton
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, 655 West 12(th) Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V5Z 4R4; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 E Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6T 1Z3
| | - Mark Gilbert
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, 655 West 12(th) Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V5Z 4R4; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 E Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6T 1Z3
| | - Mel Krajden
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, 655 West 12(th) Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V5Z 4R4; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, BC V6T 2B5
| | - Naveed Z Janjua
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, 655 West 12(th) Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V5Z 4R4; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 E Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6T 1Z3
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17
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Janjua NZ, Wong S, Darvishian M, Butt ZA, Yu A, Binka M, Alvarez M, Woods R, Yoshida EM, Ramji A, Feld J, Krajden M. The impact of SVR from direct-acting antiviral- and interferon-based treatments for HCV on hepatocellular carcinoma risk. J Viral Hepat 2020; 27:781-793. [PMID: 32187430 DOI: 10.1111/jvh.13295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2019] [Revised: 02/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
We evaluated the effect of sustained virologic response (SVR) from direct-acting antiviral (DAA)- and interferon-based treatments on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk in a large population-based cohort in Canada. We used data from the BC Hepatitis Testers Cohort, which includes ~1.3 million individuals tested for HCV since 1990, linked with healthcare administrative and registry datasets. Patients were followed from the end of HCV treatment to HCC, death or 31 December 2016. We assessed HCC risk among those who did and did not achieve SVR by treatment type using proportional hazard models. Of 12 776 eligible individuals, 3905 received DAAs while 8871 received interferon-based treatments, followed for a median of 1.0 [range: 0.6-2.7] and 7.9 [range: 4.4-17.1] years, respectively. A total of 3613 and 6575 achieved SVR with DAAs- and interferon-based treatments, respectively. Among DAAs-treated patients, HCC incidence rate was 6.9 (95%CI: 4.7-10.1)/1000 person yr (PY) in SVR group (HCC cases: 26) and 38.2 (95%CI: 20.6-71.0) in the no-SVR group (HCC cases: 10, P < .001). Among interferon-treated individuals, HCC incidence rate was 1.8 (95%CI: 1.5-2.2) in the SVR (HCC cases: 99) and 13.9 (95%CI: 12.3-15.8) in the no-SVR group (HCC cases: 239, P < .001). Compared with no-SVR from interferon, SVR from DAA- and interferon-based treatments resulted in significant reduction in HCC risk (adjusted subdistribution hazard ratio (adjSHR) DAA = 0.30, 95%CI: 0.19-0.48 and adjSHR interferon = 0.2, 95%CI: 0.16-0.26). Among those with SVR, treatment with DAAs compared to interferon was not associated with HCC risk (adjSHR = 0.93, 95%CI: 0.51-1.71). In conclusion, similar to interferon era, DAA-related SVR is associated with 70% reduction in HCC risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naveed Z Janjua
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Stanley Wong
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Maryam Darvishian
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Zahid A Butt
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Amanda Yu
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Mawuena Binka
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Maria Alvarez
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | | | - Eric M Yoshida
- Division of Gastroenterology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Alnoor Ramji
- Division of Gastroenterology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jordan Feld
- Toronto Centre for Liver Disease, Sandra Rotman Centre for Global Health, Toronto General Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mel Krajden
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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18
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Darvishian M, Wong S, Binka M, Yu A, Ramji A, Yoshida EM, Wong J, Rossi C, Butt ZA, Bartlett S, Pearce ME, Samji H, Cook D, Alvarez M, Chong M, Tyndall M, Krajden M, Janjua NZ. Loss to follow-up: A significant barrier in the treatment cascade with direct-acting therapies. J Viral Hepat 2020; 27:243-260. [PMID: 31664755 DOI: 10.1111/jvh.13228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2019] [Revised: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Effectiveness of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapies could be influenced by patient characteristics such as comorbid conditions, which could lead to premature treatment discontinuation and/or irregular medical follow-ups. Here, we evaluate loss to follow-up and treatment effectiveness of sofosbuvir/ledipasvir ± ribavirin (SOF/LDV ± RBV), ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir + dasabuvir ± ribavirin (OBV/PTV/r + DSV ± RBV) for hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 (GT1) and sofosbuvir + ribavirin (SOF + RBV) for genotype 3 (GT3) in British Columbia Canada: The British Columbia Hepatitis Testers Cohort includes data on individuals tested for HCV since 1992, integrated with medical visit, hospitalization and prescription drug data. HCV-positive individuals who initiated DAA regimens, irrespective of treatment completion, for GT1 and GT3 until 31 December, 2017 were included. Factors associated with sustained virological response (SVR) and loss to follow-up were assessed by using multivariable logistic regression models. In total 4477 individuals initiated DAAs. The most common prescribed DAA was SOF/LDV ± RBV with SVR of 95%. The highest SVR of 99.5% was observed among OBV/PTV/r + DSV-treated patients. Overall, 453 (10.1%) individuals were lost to follow-up. Higher loss to follow-up was observed among GT1 patients treated with OBV (17.8%) and GT3 patients (15.7%). The loss to follow-up rate was significantly higher among individuals aged <60 years, those with a history of injection drug use (IDU), on opioid substitution therapy and with cirrhosis. Our findings indicate that loss to follow-up exceeds viral failure in HCV DAA therapy and its rate varies significantly by genotype and treatment regimen. Depending on the aetiology of lost to follow-up, personalized case management for those with medical complications and supporting services among IDU are needed to achieve the full benefits of effective treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Darvishian
- BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,BC Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Population Oncology, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Stanley Wong
- BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Mawuena Binka
- BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Amanda Yu
- BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Alnoor Ramji
- University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Eric M Yoshida
- Division of Gastroenterology of the Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jason Wong
- BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Carmine Rossi
- BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Zahid A Butt
- BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Sofia Bartlett
- BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Margo E Pearce
- BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Hasina Samji
- BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Darrel Cook
- BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Maria Alvarez
- BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Mei Chong
- BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Mark Tyndall
- BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Mel Krajden
- BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Naveed Z Janjua
- BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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19
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Bartlett SR, Yu A, Chapinal N, Rossi C, Butt Z, Wong S, Darvishian M, Gilbert M, Wong J, Binka M, Alvarez M, Tyndall M, Krajden M, Janjua NZ. The population level care cascade for hepatitis C in British Columbia, Canada as of 2018: Impact of direct acting antivirals. Liver Int 2019; 39:2261-2272. [PMID: 31444846 DOI: 10.1111/liv.14227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Revised: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Population-level monitoring of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected people across cascades of care identifies gaps in access and engagement in care and treatment. We characterized the population-level care cascade for HCV in British Columbia (BC), Canada before and after introduction of Direct Acting Antiviral (DAA) treatment. METHODS BC Hepatitis Testers Cohort (BC-HTC) includes 1.7 million individuals tested for HCV, HIV, reported cases of hepatitis B, and active tuberculosis in BC from 1990 to 2018 linked to medical visits, hospitalizations, cancers, prescription drugs and mortality data. We defined six HCV care cascade stages: (a) antibody diagnosed; (b) RNA tested; (c) RNA positive; (d) genotyped; (e) initiated treatment; and (f) achieved sustained virologic response (SVR). RESULTS We estimated 61 127 people were HCV antibody positive in BC in 2018 (undiagnosed: 7686, 13%; diagnosed: 53 441, 87%). Of those diagnosed, 83% (44 507) had HCV RNA testing, and of those RNA positive, 90% (28 716) were genotyped. Of those genotyped, 61% (17 441) received therapy, with 90% (15 672) reaching SVR. Individuals from older birth cohorts had lower progression to HCV RNA testing. While people who currently inject drugs had the highest proportional progression to RNA testing, this group had the lowest proportional treatment uptake. CONCLUSIONS Although gaps in HCV RNA and genotype testing after antibody diagnosis exist, the largest gap in the care cascade is treatment initiation, despite introduction of DAA treatment and removal of treatment eligibility restrictions. Further interventions are required to ensure testing and treatment is equitably accessible in BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia R Bartlett
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Amanda Yu
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Nuria Chapinal
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Carmine Rossi
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Zahid Butt
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), Vancouver, BC, Canada.,School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Stanley Wong
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Maryam Darvishian
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), Vancouver, BC, Canada.,School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Mark Gilbert
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), Vancouver, BC, Canada.,School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jason Wong
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), Vancouver, BC, Canada.,School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Mawuena Binka
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Maria Alvarez
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Mark Tyndall
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), Vancouver, BC, Canada.,School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Mel Krajden
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Naveed Z Janjua
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), Vancouver, BC, Canada.,School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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20
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Rossi C, Jeong D, Wong S, McKee G, Butt ZA, Buxton J, Wong J, Darvishian M, Bartlett S, Samji H, Yu A, Binka M, Alvarez M, Adu PA, Tyndall M, Krajden M, Janjua NZ. Sustained virological response from interferon-based hepatitis C regimens is associated with reduced risk of extrahepatic manifestations. J Hepatol 2019; 71:1116-1125. [PMID: 31433302 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2019.07.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Revised: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS HCV infection is associated with several extrahepatic manifestations (EHMs). We evaluated the impact of sustained virological response (SVR) on the risk of 7 EHMs that contribute to the burden of extrahepatic disease: type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease or end-stage renal disease, stroke, ischemic heart disease, major adverse cardiac events, mood and anxiety disorders, and rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS A longitudinal cohort study was conducted using data from the British Columbia Hepatitis Testers Cohort, which included ~1.3 million individuals screened for HCV. We identified all HCV-infected individuals who were treated with interferon-based therapies between 1999 and 2014. SVR was defined as a negative HCV RNA test ≥24 weeks post-treatment or after end-of-treatment, if unavailable. We computed adjusted subdistribution hazard ratios (asHR) for the effect of SVR on each EHM using competing risk proportional hazard models. Subgroup analyses by birth cohort, sex, injection drug exposure and genotype were also performed. RESULTS Overall, 10,264 HCV-infected individuals were treated with interferon, of whom 6,023 (59%) achieved SVR. Compared to those that failed treatment, EHM risk was significantly reduced among patients with SVR for type 2 diabetes mellitus (asHR 0.65; 95%CI 0.55-0.77), chronic kidney disease or end-stage renal disease (asHR 0.53; 95% CI 0.43-0.65), ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke (asHR 0.73; 95%CI 0.49-1.09), and mood and anxiety disorders (asHR 0.82; 95%CI 0.71-0.95), but not for ischemic heart disease (asHR 1.23; 95%CI 1.03-1.47), major adverse cardiac events (asHR 0.93; 95%CI 0.79-1.11) or rheumatoid arthritis (asHR 1.09; 95% CI 0.73-1.64). CONCLUSIONS SVR was associated with a reduction in the risk of several EHMs. Increased uptake of antiviral therapy may reduce the growing burden of EHMs in this population. LAY SUMMARY We estimated the rates of chronic comorbidities other than liver disease between those who were cured and those who failed treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Our findings showed that the rates of these non-liver diseases were largely reduced for those who were cured with interferon-based treatments. Early HCV treatments could provide many benefits in the prevention of various HCV complications beyond liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmine Rossi
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Dahn Jeong
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Stanley Wong
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Geoffrey McKee
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Zahid Ahmad Butt
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jane Buxton
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jason Wong
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Maryam Darvishian
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sofia Bartlett
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Hasina Samji
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Amanda Yu
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Mawuena Binka
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Maria Alvarez
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Prince Asumadu Adu
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Mark Tyndall
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Mel Krajden
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Naveed Zafar Janjua
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
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21
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What is killing people with hepatitis C virus infection? Analysis of a population-based cohort in Canada. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2019; 72:114-122. [PMID: 31229445 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2019.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2019] [Revised: 05/23/2019] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Persons with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are at risk of mortality from both chronic liver disease and HCV acquisition risk activities. We compared causes of death among HCV positive and negative individuals to characterize contributions of acquisition risks and viral sequelae. METHODS The British Columbia (BC) Hepatitis Testers Cohort (BC-HTC) includes all individuals tested for HCV or reported as a HCV case since 1992, linked to health administrative data. ICD-10 codes were used to classify deaths as: 1) liver-related (LR); 2) HCV acquisition risk-related (AR); and 3) other causes. Mortality proportions and trends were assessed among HCV positive and negative individuals overall and by birth cohort (born <1945, 1945-64 and ≥1965). RESULTS As of December 31, 2018, of 1,300,204 HCV-tested individuals, 20,049 (27.5%) HCV positive and 132,999 (10.2%) HCV negative individuals had died (median age at death: 56.4 vs. 74.5 years, respectively). HCV positive individuals were more likely than negatives to die from both AR (24.7%/4.2%) and LR (23.4%/6.2%) causes. Deaths among older HCV positive individuals were more likely to be LR while younger individuals were more likely AR: 1) birth cohort <1945 (25.3%/2.7%); 2) 1945-64 (26.5%/23.7%) and ≥1965 (7.7%/59.9%). Among HCV positives, LR mortality increased from 1992 to 2014, then declined sharply, coinciding with the introduction and uptake of direct-acting antiviral drugs. AR mortality increased from 1992 to 2000, declined slowly until 2013, then rapidly increased, coinciding with the recent surge in opioid overdose deaths. CONCLUSIONS Curative HCV treatments reduce LR mortality, but typically will not impact AR mortality. This will need to be addressed if the World Health Organization 2030 HCV mortality reduction goals are to be achieved.
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22
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Clingan SE, Fisher DG, Hardan-Khalil K, Reynolds GL, Huckabay L, Costa C, Pedersen WC, Johnson ME. Health implications of sex trading characteristics in Long Beach, California, USA. Int J STD AIDS 2019; 30:647-655. [PMID: 30961464 DOI: 10.1177/0956462419828138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
This study examined the comparative health risk behaviors of women who (a) traded sex for money, (b) traded sex for drugs, (c) traded sex for both drugs and money, or (d) did not trade sex. Self-report data were collected from 2369 women who received services through HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing programs and a subset were tested for HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and syphilis. Results revealed those women who traded sex only for money used condoms, were tested for HIV, and received the HIV test results more often than the other women. Women who traded sex for both drugs and money reported a significantly higher prevalence of gonorrhea, hepatitis B, and syphilis; were more likely to test positive for hepatitis B, syphilis, and HIV; engaged more often in sex acts without condoms; and were incarcerated for significantly more days. Based on these findings, the targets with greatest potential for STI prevention interventions are female sex workers who trade sex for both drugs and money.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara E Clingan
- 1 San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program, Interdisciplinary Research on Substance Use, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Dennis G Fisher
- 2 Psychology Department, California State University, Long Beach, CA, USA.,3 Center for Behavioral Research and Services, California State University, Long Beach, CA, USA
| | | | - Grace L Reynolds
- 3 Center for Behavioral Research and Services, California State University, Long Beach, CA, USA.,5 Health Care Administration Department, California State University, Long Beach, CA, USA
| | - Loucine Huckabay
- 4 School of Nursing, California State University, Long Beach, CA, USA
| | - Christine Costa
- 4 School of Nursing, California State University, Long Beach, CA, USA
| | - William C Pedersen
- 2 Psychology Department, California State University, Long Beach, CA, USA
| | - Mark E Johnson
- 6 Office of Research, Pacific University, Forest Grove, OR, USA
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23
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Janjua NZ, Darvishian M, Wong S, Yu A, Rossi C, Ramji A, Yoshida EM, Butt ZA, Samji H, Chong M, Chapinal N, Cook D, Alvarez M, Tyndall M, Krajden M. Effectiveness of Ledipasvir/Sofosbuvir and Sofosbuvir/Velpatasvir in People Who Inject Drugs and/or Those in Opioid Agonist Therapy. Hepatol Commun 2019; 3:478-492. [PMID: 30976739 PMCID: PMC6442698 DOI: 10.1002/hep4.1307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2018] [Accepted: 12/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
We evaluated the effectiveness of ledipasvir/sofosbuvir (LDV/SOF) in treating hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 and SOF/velpatasvir (SOF/VEL) for all genotypes among people who inject drugs (PWID) and those not injecting drugs and who were on or off opioid agonist therapy (OAT). Study participants comprised a population-based cohort in British Columbia, Canada. The British Columbia Hepatitis Testers Cohort includes data on individuals tested for HCV from 1990 to 2016 that are integrated with medical visits, hospitalization, and prescription drug data. We classified study participants as off OAT/recent injection drug use (off-OAT/RIDU), off OAT/past IDU (off-OAT/PIDU), off OAT/no IDU (off-OAT/NIDU), on OAT/IDU (on-OAT/IDU), and on OAT/no IDU (on-OAT/NIDU). We assessed sustained virologic response (SVR) 10 weeks after HCV treatment among study groups treated with LDV/SOF or SOF/VEL until January 13, 2018. Analysis included 5,283 eligible participants: 390 off-OAT/RIDU, 598 off-OAT/PIDU, 3,515 off-OAT/NIDU, 609 on-OAT/IDU, and 171 on-OAT/NIDU. The majority were male patients (64%-74%) and aged ≥50 years (58%-85%). The SVRs for off-OAT/RIDU, off-OAT/PIDU, off-OAT/NIDU, on-OAT/IDU, and on-OAT/NIDU were 91% (355/390), 95% (570/598), 96% (3,360/3,515), 93% (567/609), and 95% (163/171), respectively. Among those with no SVR, 14 individuals died while on treatment or before SVR assessment, including 4 from illicit drug overdose. In the overall multivariable model, off-OAT/RIDU, on-OAT/IDU, male sex, cirrhosis, treatment duration <8 weeks, treatment duration 8 weeks, and treatment with SOF/VEL were associated with not achieving SVR. Conclusion: In this large real-world cohort, PWID and/or those on OAT achieved high SVRs, although slightly lower than people not injecting drugs. This finding also highlights the need for additional measures to prevent loss to follow-up and overdose-related deaths among PWID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naveed Z. Janjua
- British Columbia Centre for Disease ControlVancouverCanada
- School of Population and Public HealthUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverCanada
| | - Maryam Darvishian
- British Columbia Centre for Disease ControlVancouverCanada
- School of Population and Public HealthUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverCanada
| | - Stanley Wong
- British Columbia Centre for Disease ControlVancouverCanada
| | - Amanda Yu
- British Columbia Centre for Disease ControlVancouverCanada
| | - Carmine Rossi
- British Columbia Centre for Disease ControlVancouverCanada
- School of Population and Public HealthUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverCanada
| | - Alnoor Ramji
- Division of Gastroenterology of the Department of MedicineUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverCanada
| | - Eric M. Yoshida
- Division of Gastroenterology of the Department of MedicineUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverCanada
| | - Zahid A. Butt
- British Columbia Centre for Disease ControlVancouverCanada
- School of Population and Public HealthUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverCanada
| | - Hasina Samji
- British Columbia Centre for Disease ControlVancouverCanada
- Faculty of Health SciencesSimon Fraser UniversityBurnabyCanada
| | - Mei Chong
- British Columbia Centre for Disease ControlVancouverCanada
| | - Nuria Chapinal
- British Columbia Centre for Disease ControlVancouverCanada
| | - Darrel Cook
- British Columbia Centre for Disease ControlVancouverCanada
| | - Maria Alvarez
- British Columbia Centre for Disease ControlVancouverCanada
| | - Mark Tyndall
- British Columbia Centre for Disease ControlVancouverCanada
- School of Population and Public HealthUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverCanada
| | - Mel Krajden
- British Columbia Centre for Disease ControlVancouverCanada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory MedicineUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverCanada
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24
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Butt ZA, Mak S, Gesink D, Gilbert M, Wong J, Yu A, Wong S, Alvarez M, Chong M, Buxton J, Tyndall M, Krajden M, Janjua NZ. Applying core theory and spatial analysis to identify hepatitis C virus infection "core areas" in British Columbia, Canada. J Viral Hepat 2019; 26:373-383. [PMID: 30447122 DOI: 10.1111/jvh.13043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2018] [Revised: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
"Core areas" of transmission for bacterial sexually transmitted infections have been identified. However, it is unclear whether core areas apply to viral infections, such as hepatitis C virus (HCV). We used geographic mapping and spatial analysis to identify distinct core areas of HCV infection in British Columbia (BC) using the BC Hepatitis Testers Cohort (BC-HTC), 1990-2013. The BC-HTC includes all BC residents tested for HCV (~1.5 million; 1990-2013). Core HCV infection areas were identified spatially and temporally for five time periods (1990-1993, 1994-1998, 1999-2003, 2004-2008 and 2009-2013) through thematic mapping, Kernel Density Estimation, Hotspot analysis and cluster analysis at the Census dissemination area level in ArcGIS and SatScan. HCV infection core areas were consistently identified. HCV core areas expanded from the downtown of major cities in different regions of BC (Metro Vancouver, Vancouver Island, and Northern BC; 1990-1998), to smaller cities in Metro Vancouver and Interior BC (2000 onwards). Statistically significant clusters, or hotspots, were also observed for downtown Vancouver, Northern BC (Prince George) and Vancouver Island from 1990 to 2008 with expansion to other urban areas in Metro Vancouver from 1990-2013. Statistically significant clusters persisted after adjustment for injection drug use, number of HCV tests, age, sex, material and social deprivation. Persistence of areas with high HCV diagnoses rates in Vancouver and Prince George supports the theory of core areas of HCV transmission. Identification of core areas can inform prevention, care and treatment programme interventions and evaluate their impact over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahid A Butt
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sunny Mak
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Dionne Gesink
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mark Gilbert
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jason Wong
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Amanda Yu
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Stanley Wong
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Maria Alvarez
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Mei Chong
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jane Buxton
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Mark Tyndall
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Mel Krajden
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,BCCDC Public Health Laboratory, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Naveed Z Janjua
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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25
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Krajden M, Cook D, Janjua NZ. Contextualizing Canada's hepatitis C virus epidemic. CANADIAN LIVER JOURNAL 2018; 1:218-230. [PMID: 35992621 PMCID: PMC9202764 DOI: 10.3138/canlivj.2018-0011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2018] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
In 2016, Canada signed on to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2030 hepatitis C virus (HCV) disease elimination targets. Most of Canada's HCV disease burden is among five disproportionately affected population groups: 1) Baby boomers, who are at increased risk of dying from decompensated cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma and for whom one-time screening should be recommended to identify those undiagnosed; 2) People who inject drugs (PWID), whose mortality risks include HCV infection, HCV acquisition risks and co-morbid conditions. While HCV infection in PWID can be effectively cured with direct-acting antivirals, premature deaths from acquisition risks, now exacerbated by Canada's opioid crisis, will need to be addressed to achieve the full benefits of curative treatment. PWID require syndemic-based solutions (harm reduction, addictions and mental health support, and management of co-infections, including HIV); 3) Indigenous populations who will require wellness-based health promotion, prevention, care and treatment designed by Indigenous people to address their underlying health disparities; 4) Immigrants who will require culturally designed and linguistically appropriate services to enhance screening and engagement into care; and (5) For those incarcerated because of drug-related crimes, decriminalization and better access to harm reduction could help reduce the impact of HCV infections and premature mortality. A comprehensive prevention, care and treatment framework is needed for Canada's vulnerable populations, including those co-infected with HIV, if we are to achieve the WHO HCV elimination targets by 2030. The aim of this review is to describe the HCV epidemic in the Canadian context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mel Krajden
- Clinical Prevention Services, BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia
- Dept. of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia
| | - Darrel Cook
- Clinical Prevention Services, BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia
| | - Naveed Z Janjua
- Clinical Prevention Services, BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver British Columbia
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26
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Darvishian M, Janjua NZ, Chong M, Cook D, Samji H, Butt ZA, Yu A, Alvarez M, Yoshida E, Ramji A, Wong J, Woods R, Tyndall M, Krajden M. Estimating the impact of early hepatitis C virus clearance on hepatocellular carcinoma risk. J Viral Hepat 2018; 25:1481-1492. [PMID: 30047609 DOI: 10.1111/jvh.12977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2018] [Revised: 06/04/2018] [Accepted: 07/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Although achieving sustained virological response (SVR) through antiviral therapy could reduce the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) attributable to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, the impact of early viral clearance on HCC is not well defined. In this study, we compared the risk of HCC among individuals who spontaneously cleared HCV (SC), the referent population, with the risk in untreated chronic HCV (UCHC), those achieved SVR, and those who failed interferon-based treatment (TF). The BC Hepatitis Testers Cohort (BC-HTC) includes individuals tested for HCV between 1990-2013, integrated with medical visits, hospitalizations, cancers, prescription drugs and mortality data. This analysis included all HCV-positive patients with at least one valid HCV RNA by PCR on or after HCV diagnosis. Of 46 666 HCV-infected individuals, there were 12 527 (26.8%) SC; 24 794 (53.1%) UCHC; 5355 (11.5%) SVR and 3990 (8.5%) TF. HCC incidence was lowest (0.3/1000 person-years (PY)) in the SC group and highest in the TF group (7.7/1000 PY). In a multivariable model, compared to SC, TF had the highest HCC risk (hazard ratio (HR):14.52, 95% confidence interval (CI): 9.83-21.47), followed by UCHC (HR: 5.85; 95% CI: 4.07-8.41). Earlier treatment-based viral clearance similar to SC could decrease HCC incidence by 69.4% (95% CI: 57.5-78.0), 30% (95% CI: 10.8-45.1) and 77.5% (95% CI: 69.4-83.5) among UCHC, SVR and TF patients, respectively. In conclusion, using SC as a real-world comparator group, it showed that substantial reduction in HCC risk could be achieved with earlier treatment initiation. These analyses should be replicated in patients who have been treated with direct acting antiviral therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Darvishian
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Naveed Z Janjua
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Mei Chong
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Darrel Cook
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Hasina Samji
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Zahid A Butt
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Amanda Yu
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Maria Alvarez
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Eric Yoshida
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Alnoor Ramji
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,GI Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jason Wong
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Ryan Woods
- British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Mark Tyndall
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Mel Krajden
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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27
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Cheng ML, Abdel-Hakeem MS, Cousineau SE, Grebely J, Marshall AD, Saeed S, Sagan SM, Shoukry NH, Feld JJ, MacParland SA. The 7th Canadian Symposium on Hepatitis C Virus: “Toward Elimination of HCV: How to Get There”. CANADIAN LIVER JOURNAL 2018; 1:139-152. [DOI: 10.3138/canlivj.2018-0018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2018] [Accepted: 06/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) affects more than 268,000 people in Canada. Both the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Public Health Agency of Canada recognize the significant impact of HCV-related liver diseases and supported the establishment of a national hepatitis C research network, the Canadian Network on Hepatitis C (CanHepC). Interferon-free direct-acting antiviral regimens lead to more than 95% cure rates in almost all patients with well-tolerated short-course therapy. However, the goal of eliminating HCV in Canada cannot be fully realized until we overcome the financial, geographical, cultural, and social barriers that affect the entire continuum of care from diagnosis and linkage to care through treatment and prevention of new and reinfections. Current practices face difficulties in reversing HCV-induced immunological defects, expanding treatment to neglected communities, combating reinfections and co-infections, and expediting and simplifying the processes of diagnosis and treatment. As part of its knowledge translation mandate, CanHepC has organized the annual Canadian symposium on hepatitis C since 2012. The theme of this year’s symposium, “Toward Elimination of HCV: How to Get There?” focused on identifying the requirements of our therapeutic strategies and health policies for the elimination of HCV in Canada.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael L Cheng
- Multi-Organ Transplant Program, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
| | - Mohamed S Abdel-Hakeem
- Penn Institute for Immunology, Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Sophie E Cousineau
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec
| | - Jason Grebely
- Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Alison D Marshall
- Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sahar Saeed
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec
| | - Selena M Sagan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec
| | - Naglaa H Shoukry
- Centre de Recherche du Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec
| | - Jordan J Feld
- Toronto Centre for Liver Disease, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario
| | - Sonya A MacParland
- Multi-Organ Transplant Program, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
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28
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Butt ZA, Shrestha N, Gesink D, Murti M, Buxton JA, Gilbert M, Balshaw RF, Wong S, Kuo M, Wong J, Yu A, Alvarez M, Samji H, Roth D, Consolacion T, Hull MW, Ogilvie G, Tyndall MW, Krajden M, Janjua NZ. Effect of opioid-substitution therapy and mental health counseling on HIV risk among hepatitis C-infected individuals. Clin Epidemiol 2018; 10:1127-1145. [PMID: 30214316 PMCID: PMC6124790 DOI: 10.2147/clep.s173449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Understanding differences in HIV incidence among people living with hepatitis C virus (HCV) can help inform strategies to prevent HIV infection. We estimated the time to HIV diagnosis among HCV-positive individuals and evaluated factors that could affect HIV-infection risk in this population. Patients and methods The British Columbia Hepatitis Testers Cohort includes all BC residents (~1.5 million: about a third of all residents) tested for HCV and HIV from 1990 to 2013 and is linked to administrative health care and mortality data. All HCV-positive and HIV-negative individuals were followed to measure time to HIV acquisition (positive test) and identify factors associated with HIV acquisition. Adjusted HRs (aHRs) were estimated using Cox proportional-hazard regression. Results Of 36,077 HCV-positive individuals, 2,169 (6%) acquired HIV over 266,883 years of follow-up (overall incidence of 8.1 per 1,000 person years). Overall median (IQR) time to HIV infection was 3.87 (6.06) years. In Cox regression, injection-drug use (aHR 1.47, 95% CI 1.33–1.63), HBV infection (aHR 1.34, 95% CI 1.16–1.55), and being a man who has sex with men (aHR 2.78, 95% CI 2.14–3.61) were associated with higher risk of HIV infection. Opioid-substitution therapy (OST) (aHR 0.59, 95% CI 0.52–0.67) and mental health counseling (aHR 0.48, 95% CI 0.43–0.53) were associated with lower risk of HIV infection. Conclusion Injection-drug use, HBV coinfection, and being a man who has sex with men were associated with increased HIV risk and engagement in OST and mental health counseling were associated with reduced HIV risk among HCV-positive individuals. Improving access to OST and mental health services could prevent transmission of HIV and other blood-borne infections, especially in settings where access is limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahid A Butt
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC,
| | - Nabin Shrestha
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC,
| | - Dionne Gesink
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto
| | - Michelle Murti
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto.,Public Health Ontario, Toronto, ON
| | - Jane A Buxton
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, .,Clinical Prevention Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control
| | - Mark Gilbert
- Clinical Prevention Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control
| | - Robert F Balshaw
- Clinical Prevention Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control
| | - Stanley Wong
- Clinical Prevention Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control
| | - Margot Kuo
- Clinical Prevention Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control
| | - Jason Wong
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, .,Clinical Prevention Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control
| | - Amanda Yu
- Clinical Prevention Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control
| | - Maria Alvarez
- Clinical Prevention Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control
| | - Hasina Samji
- Clinical Prevention Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control
| | - David Roth
- Clinical Prevention Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control
| | | | - Mark W Hull
- Division of AIDS, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia.,AIDS Research Program, British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS
| | - Gina Ogilvie
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, .,Clinical Prevention Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control
| | - Mark W Tyndall
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, .,Clinical Prevention Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control
| | - Mel Krajden
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, .,Clinical Prevention Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control.,BCCDC Public Health Laboratory, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Naveed Z Janjua
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, .,Clinical Prevention Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control
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Kim RS, Weinberger AH, Chander G, Sulkowski MS, Norton B, Shuter J. Cigarette Smoking in Persons Living with Hepatitis C: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 1999-2014. Am J Med 2018; 131:669-675. [PMID: 29408018 PMCID: PMC5963992 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2018.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2017] [Revised: 01/01/2018] [Accepted: 01/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cigarette smoking is common in persons living with hepatitis C (hepatitis C+), but national statistics on this harmful practice are lacking. A better understanding of smoking behaviors in hepatitis C+ individuals may help in the development of targeted treatment strategies. METHODS We extracted data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 1999 and 2014. Hepatitis C+ were compared with hepatitis C- adults in the entire sample and in the subset of current smokers. Measures included demographics, current smoking, cigarettes/day, nicotine dependence, other tobacco use, substance use, and medical and psychiatric comorbidities. RESULTS Complete smoking and hepatitis C virus (HCV) data were available for 39,472 (90.1%) of 43,793 adult participants in NHANES during the study years. Hepatitis C+ smoked at almost triple the rate of hepatitis C- adults (62.4% vs 22.9%), with no significant difference between hepatitis C+ men and women (64.5% vs 58.2%). Hepatitis C+ smokers were more likely to smoke daily than hepatitis C- smokers (87.5% vs 80.0%), but had similar levels of nicotine dependence. Hepatitis C+ smokers were more likely to be older (mean age: 47.1 vs 41.5 years), male (69.4% vs 54.4%), Black (21.2% vs 12.1%), less educated (any college: 31.8% vs 42.9%), poor (mean family monthly poverty index: 1.80 vs 2.47), uninsured (43.9% vs 30.4%), use drugs (cocaine: 11.1% vs 3.2%; heroin: 4.0% vs 0.6%), and be depressed (33.2% vs 13.5%). Multivariate analyses revealed significant associations of both hepatitis C infection and cigarette smoking with current depression and hypertension. CONCLUSIONS There is a cigarette smoking epidemic embedded within the hepatitis C epidemic in the United States. The sociodemographic profile of hepatitis C+ smokers suggests that the implementation of effective tobacco treatment will be challenging. Thoughtful treatment strategies that are mindful of the unique characteristics of this group are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryung S Kim
- Department of Epidemiology & Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY; Department of Applied Statistics, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Andrea H Weinberger
- Department of Epidemiology & Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY; Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Yeshiva University, Bronx, NY
| | | | - Mark S Sulkowski
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md
| | - Brianna Norton
- Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
| | - Jonathan Shuter
- Department of Epidemiology & Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY; Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY.
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Buller-Taylor T, McGuinness L, Yan M, Janjua NZ. Reducing patient and provider knowledge gaps: An evaluation of a community informed hepatitis C online course. PATIENT EDUCATION AND COUNSELING 2018; 101:1095-1102. [PMID: 29370951 DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2018.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2017] [Revised: 11/20/2017] [Accepted: 01/09/2018] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Hepatitis C (HCV) knowledge gaps are associated with lower levels of engagement in (HCV) care which contributes to HCV-related morbidity and mortality. Knowledge gaps may be exacerbated by rapid changes in HCV care/treatment. Cost-effective, timely and easy-to-implement education is needed to address knowledge gaps and foster HCV engagement. METHODS We developed a free, one-hour, online course for patients and providers. Online and facilitated course events were evaluated. Outcome measures included: pre/post-scores, perceived knowledge gains and increased capacity to educate/encourage engagement in HCV care. RESULTS Total pre-post-test gains were significant (p < .001) across groups. Over 50% of participants reported: perceived knowledge gains of "A lot" or higher; the course increased their capacity to educate and encourage client engagement in care by "A lot" or higher. CONCLUSIONS The evaluation confirmed ongoing patient and provider HCV knowledge gaps, significantly reduced those gaps, and increased provider's capacity to educate and encourage client engagement in HCV care. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS The course is an effective tool to address knowledge gaps that might lower engagement in care. It is available to patients to use in the privacy of their own home or for providers for their personal use, to use with individuals or patient groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terri Buller-Taylor
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC); School of Nursing, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, Canada.
| | - Liza McGuinness
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC); School of Nursing, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, Canada
| | - Melissa Yan
- School of Population and Public Health, UBC, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Naveed Z Janjua
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC); School of Population and Public Health, UBC, Vancouver, Canada
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Janjua NZ, Islam N, Kuo M, Yu A, Wong S, Butt ZA, Gilbert M, Buxton J, Chapinal N, Samji H, Chong M, Alvarez M, Wong J, Tyndall MW, Krajden M. Identifying injection drug use and estimating population size of people who inject drugs using healthcare administrative datasets. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2018; 55:31-39. [DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2018.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2017] [Revised: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 02/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Binka M, Butt ZA, Wong S, Chong M, Buxton JA, Chapinal N, Yu A, Alvarez M, Darvishian M, Wong J, McGowan G, Torban M, Gilbert M, Tyndall M, Krajden M, Janjua NZ. Differing profiles of people diagnosed with acute and chronic hepatitis B virus infection in British Columbia, Canada. World J Gastroenterol 2018; 24:1216-1227. [PMID: 29568202 PMCID: PMC5859224 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v24.i11.1216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2018] [Revised: 02/21/2018] [Accepted: 03/03/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM To describe the characteristics of people diagnosed with acute and chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in British Columbia (BC).
METHODS We used data from the BC Hepatitis Testers Cohort (BC-HTC), which includes all individuals tested for hepatitis C virus (HCV) or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or those diagnosed with HBV or active tuberculosis in BC since 1990. These data were integrated with prescription drug, medical visit, hospitalization and mortality data. HBV cases were classified as acute or chronic according to provincial guidelines. We compared characteristics of individuals by HBV infection group (acute, chronic and negative). Factors associated with acute or chronic HBV infection were assessed with multinomial logistic regression models in comparison to the HBV negative group.
RESULTS 46498 of the 1058056 eligible BC-HTC participants were diagnosed with HBV infection. 4.3% of HBV positive individuals were diagnosed with acute HBV infections while 95.7% had chronic infections. Problematic alcohol use, injection drug use, and HIV or HCV co-infection were more common among individuals diagnosed with acute HBV compared to those with chronic infections and HBV negative individuals. In multivariable multinomial logistic regression models, we observed significant associations between acute or chronic HBV diagnosis and being male, age at HBV diagnosis or birth cohort, South and East Asian ethnicity, HCV or HIV infection, and injection drug use. The odds of acute HBV decreased with increasing age among people who inject drugs, while the opposite was true for chronic HBV. Persons with acute HBV were predominantly White (78%) while those with chronic HBV were mostly East Asian (60%). Relative to Whites, East Asians had 12 times greater odds of being diagnosed with chronic HBV infection. These odds increased with increasing socioeconomic deprivation.
CONCLUSION Differences in the profiles of people diagnosed with acute and chronic HBV infection necessitate differentiated screening, prevention, care and treatment programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mawuena Binka
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver BC V5Z4R4, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC V6T1Z3, Canada
| | - Zahid A Butt
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver BC V5Z4R4, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC V6T1Z3, Canada
| | - Stanley Wong
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver BC V5Z4R4, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC V6T1Z3, Canada
| | - Mei Chong
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver BC V5Z4R4, Canada
| | - Jane A Buxton
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver BC V5Z4R4, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC V6T1Z3, Canada
| | - Nuria Chapinal
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver BC V5Z4R4, Canada
| | - Amanda Yu
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver BC V5Z4R4, Canada
| | - Maria Alvarez
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver BC V5Z4R4, Canada
| | - Maryam Darvishian
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver BC V5Z4R4, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC V6T1Z3, Canada
| | - Jason Wong
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver BC V5Z4R4, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC V6T1Z3, Canada
| | - Gina McGowan
- Division of Population and Public Health, Ministry of Health, Victoria BC V8W9P1, Canada
| | - Mikhail Torban
- Division of Population and Public Health, Ministry of Health, Victoria BC V8W9P1, Canada
| | - Mark Gilbert
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver BC V5Z4R4, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC V6T1Z3, Canada
| | - Mark Tyndall
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver BC V5Z4R4, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC V6T1Z3, Canada
| | - Mel Krajden
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver BC V5Z4R4, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC V6T1Z2, Canada
| | - Naveed Z Janjua
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver BC V5Z4R4, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC V6T1Z3, Canada
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Samji H, Yu A, Kuo M, Alavi M, Woods R, Alvarez M, Dore GJ, Tyndall M, Krajden M, Janjua NZ. Late hepatitis B and C diagnosis in relation to disease decompensation and hepatocellular carcinoma development. J Hepatol 2017; 67:909-917. [PMID: 28684103 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2017.06.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2017] [Revised: 05/27/2017] [Accepted: 06/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS We measured the timing of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) diagnoses relative to the detection of decompensated cirrhosis (DC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as an indicator of late hepatitis diagnosis. METHODS HBV and HCV diagnoses were defined relative to the diagnosis of DC or HCC such that HBV/HCV diagnoses within two years prior, at the time of or after HCC or DC diagnosis were considered late. We performed multivariable logistic regression to assess factors associated with late HBV/HCV diagnoses among those with DC or HCC. RESULTS From 1990 to 2012, 778/32,664 HBV cases (2.4%) and 3,925/57,866 HCV cases (6.8%) developed DC while 628/32,644 HBV cases (1.9%) and 902/57,866 HCV cases (1.6%) developed HCC. Among HBV and HCV cases with DC, 49% and 40% respectively were late diagnoses, as were 46% and 31% of HBV and HCV cases with HCC, respectively. HBV late diagnosis declined from 100% in 1992 to 11% and 26% in 2011, while HCV late diagnosis declined from 100% in 1992 to 16% and 14% in 2011 for DC and HCC respectively. In multivariable modelling, late HBV diagnosis was associated with mental illness and a fewer number of physician visits in the five years prior to HBV diagnosis. Late HCV diagnosis was also associated with fewer physician visits, while those with illicit drug use were less likely to be diagnosed late. CONCLUSIONS The proportion of late diagnoses has declined over time. People with better engagement with the healthcare system and with risk activities were diagnosed earlier. Lay summary: Late diagnosis of HBV and HCV represents a missed opportunity to reduce the risk of serious liver disease. Our results identify successes in earlier diagnosis over time using risk-based testing as well as groups that are being missed for screening such as those who do not see a physician regularly and those with serious mental illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hasina Samji
- BC Centre for Disease Control, 655 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 4R4, Canada; University of British Columbia, 2329 West Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada; Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Dr, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Amanda Yu
- BC Centre for Disease Control, 655 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 4R4, Canada
| | - Margot Kuo
- BC Centre for Disease Control, 655 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 4R4, Canada
| | - Maryam Alavi
- The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Wallace Wurth Building, High St, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Ryan Woods
- BC Cancer Agency, 600 W 10th Ave, Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 4E6, Canada
| | - Maria Alvarez
- BC Centre for Disease Control, 655 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 4R4, Canada
| | - Gregory J Dore
- The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Wallace Wurth Building, High St, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Mark Tyndall
- BC Centre for Disease Control, 655 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 4R4, Canada; University of British Columbia, 2329 West Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Mel Krajden
- BC Centre for Disease Control, 655 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 4R4, Canada; University of British Columbia, 2329 West Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Naveed Z Janjua
- BC Centre for Disease Control, 655 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 4R4, Canada; University of British Columbia, 2329 West Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada.
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Hepatitis C cross-genotype immunity and implications for vaccine development. Sci Rep 2017; 7:12326. [PMID: 28951612 PMCID: PMC5615075 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-10190-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2017] [Accepted: 08/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
While about a quarter of individuals clear their primary hepatitis C (HCV) infections spontaneously, clearance (spontaneous or treatment-induced) does not confer sterilizing immunity against a future infection. Since successful treatment does not prevent future infections either, an effective vaccine is highly desirable in preventing HCV (re)infection. However, development of an effective vaccine has been complicated by the diversity of HCV genotypes, and complexities in HCV immunological responses. Smaller studies on humans and chimpanzees reported seemingly opposing results regarding cross-neutralizing antibodies. We report a lack of cross-genotype immunity in the largest cohort of people to date. In the adjusted Cox proportional hazards model, reinfection with a heterologous HCV genotype (adjusted Hazard Ratio [aHR]: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.25–0.84) was associated with a 55% lower likelihood of re-clearance. Among those who cleared their first infection spontaneously, the likelihood of re-clearance was 49% lower (aHR: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.27–0.94) when reinfected with a heterologous HCV genotype. These findings indicate that immunity against a particular HCV genotype does not offer expanded immunity to protect against subsequent infections with a different HCV genotype. A prophylactic HCV vaccine boosted with multiple HCV genotype may offer a broader and more effective protection.
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Butt ZA, Shrestha N, Wong S, Kuo M, Gesink D, Gilbert M, Wong J, Yu A, Alvarez M, Samji H, Buxton JA, Johnston JC, Cook VJ, Roth D, Consolacion T, Murti M, Hottes TS, Ogilvie G, Balshaw R, Tyndall MW, Krajden M, Janjua NZ. A syndemic approach to assess the effect of substance use and social disparities on the evolution of HIV/HCV infections in British Columbia. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0183609. [PMID: 28829824 PMCID: PMC5568727 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0183609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2017] [Accepted: 08/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Co-occurrence of social conditions and infections may affect HIV/HCV disease risk and progression. We examined the changes in relationship of these social conditions and infections on HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections over time in British Columbia during 1990-2013. METHODS The BC Hepatitis Testers Cohort (BC-HTC) includes ~1.5 million individuals tested for HIV or HCV, or reported as a case of HCV, HIV, HBV, or tuberculosis linked to administrative healthcare databases. We classified HCV and HIV infection status into five combinations: HIV-/HCV-, HIV+monoinfected, HIV-/HCV+seroconverters, HIV-/HCV+prevalent, and HIV+/HCV+. RESULTS Of 1.37 million eligible individuals, 4.1% were HIV-/HCV+prevalent, 0.5% HIV+monoinfected, 0.3% HIV+/HCV+ co-infected and 0.5% HIV-/HCV+seroconverters. Overall, HIV+monoinfected individuals lived in urban areas (92%), had low injection drug use (IDU) (4%), problematic alcohol use (4%) and were materially more privileged than other groups. HIV+/HCV+ co-infected and HIV-/HCV+seroconverters were materially most deprived (37%, 32%), had higher IDU (28%, 49%), problematic alcohol use (14%, 17%) and major mental illnesses (12%, 21%). IDU, opioid substitution therapy, and material deprivation increased in HIV-/HCV+seroconverters over time. In multivariable multinomial regression models, over time, the odds of IDU declined among HIV-/HCV+prevalent and HIV+monoinfected individuals but not in HIV-/HCV+seroconverters. Declines in odds of problematic alcohol use were observed in HIV-/HCV+seroconverters and coinfected individuals over time. CONCLUSIONS These results highlight need for designing prevention, care and support services for HIV and HCV infected populations based on the evolving syndemics of infections and social conditions which vary across groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahid Ahmad Butt
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Nabin Shrestha
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Stanley Wong
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Margot Kuo
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Dionne Gesink
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mark Gilbert
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jason Wong
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Amanda Yu
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Maria Alvarez
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Hasina Samji
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jane A. Buxton
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - James C. Johnston
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Victoria J. Cook
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - David Roth
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Theodora Consolacion
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Michelle Murti
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Fraser Health, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Travis S. Hottes
- BCCDC Public Health Laboratory, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Gina Ogilvie
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Robert Balshaw
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Mark W. Tyndall
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Mel Krajden
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- BCCDC Public Health Laboratory, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Naveed Z. Janjua
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Janjua NZ, Islam N, Wong J, Yoshida EM, Ramji A, Samji H, Butt ZA, Chong M, Cook D, Alvarez M, Darvishian M, Tyndall M, Krajden M. Shift in disparities in hepatitis C treatment from interferon to DAA era: A population-based cohort study. J Viral Hepat 2017; 24:624-630. [PMID: 28130810 DOI: 10.1111/jvh.12684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2016] [Accepted: 12/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
We evaluated the shift in the characteristics of people who received interferon-based hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatments and those who received recently introduced direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) in British Columbia (BC), Canada. The BC Hepatitis Testers Cohort includes 1.5 million individuals tested for HCV or HIV, or reported cases of hepatitis B and active tuberculosis in BC from 1990 to 2013 linked to medical visits, hospitalization, cancer, prescription drugs and mortality data. This analysis included all patients who filled at least one prescription for HCV treatment until 31 July 2015. HCV treatments were classified as older interferon-based treatments including pegylated interferon/ribavirin (PegIFN/RBV) with/without boceprevir or telaprevir, DAAs with RBV or PegIFN/RBV, and newer interferon-free DAAs. Of 11 886 people treated for HCV between 2000 and 2015, 1164 (9.8%) received interferon-free DAAs (ledipasvir/sofosbuvir: n=1075; 92.4%), while 452 (3.8%) received a combination of DAAs and RBV or PegIFN/RBV. Compared to those receiving interferon-based treatment, people with HIV co-infection (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.96, 95% CI: 2.31-3.81), cirrhosis (aOR: 1.77, 95% CI: 1.45-2.15), decompensated cirrhosis (aOR: 1.72, 95% CI: 1.31-2.28), diabetes (aOR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.10-1.54), a history of injection drug use (aOR: 1.34, 95% CI: 1.09-1.65) and opioid substitution therapy (aOR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.01-1.67) were more likely to receive interferon-free DAAs. Socio-economically marginalized individuals were significantly less likely (most deprived vs most privileged: aOR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.58-0.87) to receive DAAs. In conclusion, there is a shift in prescription of new HCV treatments to previously excluded groups (eg HIV-co-infected), although gaps remain for the socio-economically marginalized populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Z Janjua
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - N Islam
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - J Wong
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - E M Yoshida
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - A Ramji
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - H Samji
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Z A Butt
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - M Chong
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - D Cook
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - M Alvarez
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - M Darvishian
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - M Tyndall
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - M Krajden
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Islam N, Krajden M, Gilbert M, Gustafson P, Yu A, Kuo M, Chong M, Alvarez M, Wong J, Tyndall MW, Janjua NZ. Role of primary T-cell immunodeficiency and hepatitis B coinfection on spontaneous clearance of hepatitis C: The BC Hepatitis Testers Cohort. J Viral Hepat 2017; 24:421-429. [PMID: 27885757 DOI: 10.1111/jvh.12650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2016] [Accepted: 10/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
T-cell host immune response against hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been suggested to play an important role in determining HCV infection outcome. However, data from human studies are not available. This study examined the effect of primary T-cell deficiency along with other factors on the spontaneous clearance of HCV in a large population-based cohort in British Columbia, Canada. The BC Hepatitis Testers Cohort includes all individuals tested for HCV in BC in 1990-2013 linked with data on their medical visits, hospitalizations and prescription drugs. HCV-positive individuals with at least one valid HCV PCR test on/after HCV diagnosis (n=46 783) were included in this study. To examine factors associated with the spontaneous clearance of HCV, multivariable logistic regression was fitted on the full sample, and Cox proportional hazards model on the HCV seroconverters. Spontaneous clearance was observed in 25.1% (n=11 737) of those tested for HCV. After adjusting for potential confounders, the odds of spontaneous clearance of HCV was lower in people with primary T-cell immunodeficiency (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.32-0.94), and higher in females (aOR: 1.61, 95% CI: 1.54-1.68) and in those coinfected with HBV (aOR: 2.31, 95% CI: 1.93-2.77). Similar results were observed in HCV seroconverters except HBV coinfection was not significant. In conclusion, primary T-cell immunodeficiency is associated with a lower spontaneous clearance of HCV while female sex and coinfection with HBV are associated with a higher spontaneous clearance.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Islam
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - M Krajden
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - M Gilbert
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Ontario HIV Treatment Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - P Gustafson
- Department of Statistics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - A Yu
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - M Kuo
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - M Chong
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - M Alvarez
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - J Wong
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - M W Tyndall
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - N Z Janjua
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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38
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Islam N, Krajden M, Shoveller J, Gustafson P, Gilbert M, Buxton JA, Wong J, Tyndall MW, Janjua NZ. Incidence, risk factors, and prevention of hepatitis C reinfection: a population-based cohort study. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol 2017; 2:200-210. [DOI: 10.1016/s2468-1253(16)30182-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2016] [Revised: 11/17/2016] [Accepted: 11/17/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Janjua NZ, Chong M, Kuo M, Woods R, Wong J, Yoshida EM, Sherman M, Butt ZA, Samji H, Cook D, Yu A, Alvarez M, Tyndall M, Krajden M. Long-term effect of sustained virological response on hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with hepatitis C in Canada. J Hepatol 2017; 66:504-513. [PMID: 27818234 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2016.10.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2016] [Revised: 10/19/2016] [Accepted: 10/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Evidence is limited on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk after sustained virological response (SVR) to interferon-based treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We evaluated the effect of SVR on the risk of HCC and estimated its incidence in post-SVR HCV patients from a large population-based Canadian cohort. METHODS The British Columbia Hepatitis Testers Cohort includes individuals tested for HCV between 1990-2013 linked with data on their medical visits, hospitalizations, cancers, prescription drugs and mortality. Patients receiving interferon-based HCV treatments were followed from the end of treatment to HCC diagnosis, death or December 31, 2012. We examined HCC risk among those who did and did not achieve SVR using multivariable proportional hazard models with the Fine and Gray modification for competing risks. RESULTS Of 8147 individuals who received HCV treatment and were eligible for analysis, 4663 (57%) achieved SVR and 3484 (43%) did not. Each group was followed for a median of 5.6years (range: 0.5-12.9) for an HCC incidence rate of 1.1/1000 person-years (PY) among the SVR and 7.2/1000 PY among the no SVR group. The HCC incidence rate was higher among those with cirrhosis (SVR: 6.4, no SVR: 21.0/1000 PY). In the multivariable model, SVR was associated with a lower HCC risk (subdistribution hazard ratio [SHR]=0.20, 95% CI: 0.13-0.3), while cirrhosis (SHR=2.61, 95% CI: 1.68-4.04), age ⩾50years, being male and genotype 3 infection were associated with a higher HCC risk. Among those who achieved SVR, cirrhosis, age ⩾50years and being male were associated with a higher HCC risk. CONCLUSION SVR after interferon-based treatment substantially reduces but does not eliminate HCC risk, which is markedly higher among those with cirrhosis and age ⩾50years at treatment initiation. Treatment of patients at an advanced fibrosis stage with new highly effective drugs will warrant continued surveillance for HCC post-SVR. LAY SUMMARY We assessed the effect of successful hepatitis C treatment with older interferon-based treatment on the occurrence of liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) and found that successful treatment prevents liver cancer. However, more people with cirrhosis and older age continued to develop liver cancer after successful treatment. Thus, treatment with new drugs among those with cirrhosis will require continued monitoring for liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naveed Z Janjua
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
| | - Mei Chong
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Margot Kuo
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Ryan Woods
- British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jason Wong
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Eric M Yoshida
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Morris Sherman
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Zahid A Butt
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Hasina Samji
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Darrel Cook
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Amanda Yu
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Maria Alvarez
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Mark Tyndall
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Mel Krajden
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Greenaway C, Azoulay L, Allard R, Cox J, Tran VA, Abou Chakra CN, Steele R, Klein M. A population-based study of chronic hepatitis C in immigrants and non-immigrants in Quebec, Canada. BMC Infect Dis 2017; 17:140. [PMID: 28193199 PMCID: PMC5307836 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-017-2242-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2016] [Accepted: 02/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immigrants originating from intermediate and high HCV prevalence countries may be at increased risk of exposure to hepatitis C infection (HCV) in their countries of origin, however they are not routinely screened after arrival in most low HCV prevalence host countries. We aimed to describe the epidemiology of HCV in immigrants compared to the Canadian born population. METHODS Using the reportable infectious disease database linked to the landed immigration database and several provincial administrative databases, we assembled a cohort of all reported cases of HCV in Quebec, Canada (1998-2008). Underlying co-morbidities were identified in the health services databases. Stratum specific rates of reported cases/100,000, rate ratios (RRs) and trends over the study period were estimated. RESULTS A total of 20,862 patients with HCV were identified, among whom 1922 (9.2%) were immigrants. Immigrants were older and diagnosed a mean of 9.8 ± 7 years after arrival. The Canadian born population was more likely to have behavior co-morbidities (problematic alcohol or drug use) and HIV co-infection. Immigrants from Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe had the highest HCV reported rates with RRs compared to non-immigrants ranging from 1.5 to 1.7. The age and sex adjusted rates decreased by 4.9% per year in non-immigrants but remained unchanged in immigrants. The proportion of HCV occurring in immigrants doubled over the study period from 5 to 11%. CONCLUSIONS Immigrants from intermediate and high HCV prevalence countries are at increased risk for HCV and had a mean delay in diagnosis of almost 10 years after arrival suggesting that they may benefit from targeted HCV screening and earlier linkage to care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Greenaway
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, 3755 Côte St. Catherine Road, Room E-0057, Montreal, PQ H3T 1E2 Canada
- Centre for Clinical Epidemiology, Lady Davis Research Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Laurent Azoulay
- Centre for Clinical Epidemiology, Lady Davis Research Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Robert Allard
- Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Montreal Public Health Department, Montreal, Canada
| | - Joseph Cox
- Sexually Transmitted Infections Division, Montreal Public Health Department, Montreal, Canada
| | - Viet Anh Tran
- Centre for Clinical Epidemiology, Lady Davis Research Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Claire Nour Abou Chakra
- Centre for Clinical Epidemiology, Lady Davis Research Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Russ Steele
- Centre for Clinical Epidemiology, Lady Davis Research Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Marina Klein
- Division of Infectious Diseases, McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
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Janjua NZ, Kuo M, Yu A, Alvarez M, Wong S, Cook D, Wong J, Grebely J, Butt ZA, Samji H, Ramji A, Tyndall M, Krajden M. The Population Level Cascade of Care for Hepatitis C in British Columbia, Canada: The BC Hepatitis Testers Cohort (BC-HTC). EBioMedicine 2016; 12:189-195. [PMID: 27596150 PMCID: PMC5078584 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2016.08.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2016] [Revised: 08/19/2016] [Accepted: 08/23/2016] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Population-level monitoring of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected people across the cascade of care identifies gaps in access and engagement in care and treatment. We characterized a population-level cascade of care for HCV in British Columbia (BC), Canada and identified factors associated with leakage at each stage. Methods The BC Hepatitis Testers Cohort (BC-HTC) includes 1.5 million individuals tested for HCV, HIV, reported cases of hepatitis B, and active tuberculosis in BC from 1990 to 2013 linked to medical visits, hospitalizations, cancers, prescription drugs and mortality data. We defined six HCV cascade of care stages: 1) estimated population prevalence; 2) HCV diagnosed; 3) HCV RNA tested; 4) genotyped; 5) initiated treatment; and 6) achieved sustained virologic response (SVR). Results We estimated that 73,203 people were HCV antibody positive in BC in 2012 (undiagnosed: 18,301, 25%; diagnosed: 54,902, 75%). Of these, 56%(40,656) had HCV RNA testing; 34%(26,300) were genotyped; 12%( 8532 ) had received interferon-based therapy and 7%(5197) had SVR. Males, older birth cohorts, and HBV coinfected were less likely to undergo HCV RNA testing. Among those with chronic HCV infection, 32% had received liver-related care. Retention in liver care was more likely in those with HIV, cirrhosis, and drug/alcohol use and less likely in males and HBV coinfected. Conclusions Although there are gaps in HCV RNA testing and genotyping after HCV diagnosis, the major gap in the cascade of care was low treatment initiation. People with comorbidities progressed through the cascade of testing and care but few received treatment. Integration of various data sources enables HCV monitoring across the care cascade to assess program effectiveness. The majority of anti-HCV positive individuals were tested for RNA and genotyping. Very small proportion of HCV infected individuals received treatment. People with HIV coinfection and drug use despite being in liver care were less likely to receive treatment.
We have assembled data on all individuals testing for hepatitis C in British Columbia to establish a system to monitor infection and care. The majority of the individuals testing positive for anti- HCV antibodies were tested for hepatitis C RNA and subsequently genotyping, both needed for treatment. However, very small percentage received interferon-based hepatitis C treatment and it was successful in about half of them. People with HIV co-infection and drug use were more likely to receive liver care but they were less likely to receive treatment. Changes at laboratory level could overcome remaining gaps in testing while highly tolerable and effective new drugs could reduce treatment gaps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naveed Z Janjua
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), 655 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4R4, Canada; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada.
| | - Margot Kuo
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), 655 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4R4, Canada
| | - Amanda Yu
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), 655 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4R4, Canada
| | - Maria Alvarez
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), 655 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4R4, Canada
| | - Stanley Wong
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), 655 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4R4, Canada
| | - Darrel Cook
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), 655 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4R4, Canada
| | - Jason Wong
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), 655 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4R4, Canada; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Jason Grebely
- Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales Australia, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Zahid A Butt
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), 655 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4R4, Canada; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Hasina Samji
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), 655 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4R4, Canada; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Alnoor Ramji
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada
| | - Mark Tyndall
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), 655 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4R4, Canada; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Mel Krajden
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), 655 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4R4, Canada; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada
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