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Forouzannia F, Hamadeh A, Passos-Castilho AM, Erman A, Yu A, Feng Z, Janjua NZ, Sander B, Greenaway C, Wong WWL. Impact of new direct-acting antiviral therapy on the prevalence and undiagnosed proportion of chronic hepatitis C infection. Liver Int 2024; 44:1383-1395. [PMID: 38445848 DOI: 10.1111/liv.15875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) can be cured with the new highly effective interferon-free combination treatments (DAA) that were approved in 2014. However, CHC is a largely silent disease, and many individuals are unaware of their infections until the late stages of the disease. The impact of wider access to effective treatments and improved awareness of the disease on the number of infections and the number of patients who remain undiagnosed is not known in Canada. Such evidence can guide the development of strategies and interventions to reduce the burden of CHC and meet World Health Organization's (WHO) 2030 elimination targets. The purpose of this study is to use a back-calculation framework informed by provincial population-level health administrative data to estimate the prevalence of CHC and the proportion of cases that remain undiagnosed in the three most populated provinces in Canada: British Columbia (BC), Ontario and Quebec. METHODS We have conducted a population-based retrospective analysis of health administrative data for the three provinces to generate the annual incidence of newly diagnosed CHC cases, decompensated cirrhosis (DC), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and HCV treatment initiations. For each province, the data were stratified in three birth cohorts: individuals born prior to 1945, individuals born between 1945 and 1965 and individuals born after 1965. We used a back-calculation modelling approach to estimate prevalence and the undiagnosed proportion of CHC. The historical prevalence of CHC was inferred through a calibration process based on a Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm. The algorithm constructs the historical prevalence of CHC for each cohort by comparing the model-generated outcomes of the annual incidence of the CHC-related health events against the data set of observed diagnosed cases generated in the retrospective analysis. RESULTS The results show a decreasing trend in both CHC prevalence and undiagnosed proportion in BC, Ontario and Quebec. In 2018, CHC prevalence was estimated to be 1.23% (95% CI: .96%-1.62%), .91% (95% CI: .82%-1.04%) and .57% (95% CI: .51%-.64%) in BC, Ontario and Quebec respectively. The CHC undiagnosed proportion was assessed to be 35.44% (95% CI: 27.07%-45.83%), 34.28% (95% CI: 26.74%-41.62%) and 46.32% (95% CI: 37.85%-52.80%) in BC, Ontario and Quebec, respectively, in 2018. Also, since the introduction of new DAA treatment in 2014, CHC prevalence decreased from 1.39% to 1.23%, .97% to .91% and .65% to .57% in BC, Ontario and Quebec respectively. Similarly, the CHC undiagnosed proportion decreased from 38.78% to 35.44%, 38.70% to 34.28% and 47.54% to 46.32% in BC, Ontario and Quebec, respectively, from 2014 to 2018. CONCLUSIONS We estimated that the CHC prevalence and undiagnosed proportion have declined for all three provinces since the new DAA treatment has been approved in 2014. Yet, our findings show that a significant proportion of HCV cases remain undiagnosed across all provinces highlighting the need to increase investment in screening. Our findings provide essential evidence to guide decisions about current and future HCV strategies and help achieve the WHO goal of eliminating hepatitis C in Canada by 2030.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Abdullah Hamadeh
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Aysegul Erman
- Toronto Health Economics and Technology Assessment Collaborative (THETA), University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Amanda Yu
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Zeny Feng
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, 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
- Centre for Advancing Health Outcomes, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Beate Sander
- Toronto Health Economics and Technology Assessment Collaborative (THETA), University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- ICES, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - William W L Wong
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
- Toronto Health Economics and Technology Assessment Collaborative (THETA), University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- ICES, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Greenwald ZR, Werb D, Feld JJ, Austin PC, Fridman D, Bayoumi AM, Gomes T, Kendall CE, Lapointe-Shaw L, Scheim AI, Bartlett SR, Benchimol EI, Bouck Z, Boucher LM, Greenaway C, Janjua NZ, Leece P, Wong WWL, Sander B, Kwong JC. Validation of case-ascertainment algorithms using health administrative data to identify people who inject drugs in Ontario, Canada. J Clin Epidemiol 2024; 170:111332. [PMID: 38522754 DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2024.111332] [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: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Health administrative data can be used to improve the health of people who inject drugs by informing public health surveillance and program planning, monitoring, and evaluation. However, methodological gaps in the use of these data persist due to challenges in accurately identifying injection drug use (IDU) at the population level. In this study, we validated case-ascertainment algorithms for identifying people who inject drugs using health administrative data in Ontario, Canada. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING Data from cohorts of people with recent (past 12 months) IDU, including those participating in community-based research studies or seeking drug treatment, were linked to health administrative data in Ontario from 1992 to 2020. We assessed the validity of algorithms to identify IDU over varying look-back periods (ie, all years of data [1992 onwards] or within the past 1-5 years), including inpatient and outpatient physician billing claims for drug use, emergency department (ED) visits or hospitalizations for drug use or injection-related infections, and opioid agonist treatment (OAT). RESULTS Algorithms were validated using data from 15,241 people with recent IDU (918 in community cohorts and 14,323 seeking drug treatment). An algorithm consisting of ≥1 physician visit, ED visit, or hospitalization for drug use, or OAT record could effectively identify IDU history (91.6% sensitivity and 94.2% specificity) and recent IDU (using 3-year look back: 80.4% sensitivity, 99% specificity) among community cohorts. Algorithms were generally more sensitive among people who inject drugs seeking drug treatment. CONCLUSION Validated algorithms using health administrative data performed well in identifying people who inject drugs. Despite their high sensitivity and specificity, the positive predictive value of these algorithms will vary depending on the underlying prevalence of IDU in the population in which they are applied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoë R Greenwald
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; ICES, Toronto, Canada; Centre on Drug Policy Evaluation, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Dan Werb
- Centre on Drug Policy Evaluation, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, USA
| | - Jordan J Feld
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Toronto Centre for Liver Disease, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Canada; University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Peter C Austin
- ICES, Toronto, Canada; Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | | | - Ahmed M Bayoumi
- ICES, Toronto, Canada; Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Division of General Internal Medicine, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Canada; MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto Canada
| | - Tara Gomes
- ICES, Toronto, Canada; Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto Canada; Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Ontario Drug Policy Research Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Claire E Kendall
- ICES, Toronto, Canada; Bruyère Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada; Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Lauren Lapointe-Shaw
- ICES, Toronto, Canada; Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Ayden I Scheim
- Centre on Drug Policy Evaluation, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, USA; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Canada
| | - Sofia R Bartlett
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, Canada; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Eric I Benchimol
- ICES, Toronto, Canada; Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Child Health Evaluative Sciences, SickKids Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada; Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Zachary Bouck
- Centre on Drug Policy Evaluation, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Canada; MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto Canada; Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | | | - Christina Greenaway
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Canada; Centre for Clinical Epidemiology, Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Canada; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Naveed Z Janjua
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, Canada; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Centre for Health Evaluation & Outcome Sciences, St Paul's Hospital Vancouver, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Pamela Leece
- Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Canada; Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - William W L Wong
- ICES, Toronto, Canada; School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Kitchener, Canada; Toronto Health Economics and Technology Assessment Collaborative, Toronto, Canada
| | - Beate Sander
- ICES, Toronto, Canada; Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; University Health Network, Toronto, Canada; Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Canada; Toronto Health Economics and Technology Assessment Collaborative, Toronto, Canada
| | - Jeffrey C Kwong
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; ICES, Toronto, Canada; University Health Network, Toronto, Canada; Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Canada; Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
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Tandon S, Castaneda R, Tarasco N, Percival J, Nieto Linares R, Geiger G, Cooper CL. Successes and challenges of best practice alerts to identify and engage individuals living with hepatitis C virus. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1281079. [PMID: 38832223 PMCID: PMC11146373 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1281079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Many individuals living with hepatitis C virus (HCV) are unaware of their diagnosis and/or have not been linked to programs providing HCV care. The use of electronic medical record (EMR) systems may assist with HCV infection identification and linkage to care. Methods In October 2021, we implemented HCV serology-focused best practice alerts (BPAs) at The Ottawa Hospital (TOH) via our EMR (EPIC). Our BPAs were programmed to identify previously tested HCV seropositive individuals. Physicians were prompted to conduct HCV RNA testing and submit consultation requests to the TOH Viral Hepatitis Program. We evaluated data post-BPA implementation to assess the design and related outcomes. Results From 1 September 2022 to 15 December 2022, a total of 2,029 BPAs were triggered for 139 individuals. As a consequence of the BPA prompts, nine HCV seropositive and nine HCV RNA-positive individuals were linked to care. The proportion of total consultations coming from TOH physicians increased post-BPA implementation. The BPA alerts were frequently declined, and physician engagement with our BPAs varied across specialty groups. Programming issues led to unnecessary BPA prompts (e.g., no hard stop to the prompts even though the individual was treated and cured and individuals linked to care without first undergoing HCV RNA testing). A fixed 6-month lookback period for test results limited our ability to identify many individuals. Conclusion An EMR-based BPA can assist with the identification and engagement of HCV-infected individuals in care. However, challenges including issues with programming, time commitment toward BPA configuration, productive communication between healthcare providers and the programming team, and physician responsiveness to the BPAs require attention to optimize the impact of BPAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saniya Tandon
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Roselyn Castaneda
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | | | | | | | | | - Curtis L. Cooper
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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Morrow RL, Binka M, Li J, Irvine M, Bartlett SR, Wong S, Jeong D, Makuza JD, Wong J, Yu A, Krajden M, Janjua NZ. Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Hepatitis C Treatment Initiation in British Columbia, Canada: An Interrupted Time Series Study. Viruses 2024; 16:655. [PMID: 38793537 PMCID: PMC11125629 DOI: 10.3390/v16050655] [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: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
We investigated the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on hepatitis C (HCV) treatment initiation, including by birth cohort and injection drug use status, in British Columbia (BC), Canada. Using population data from the BC COVID-19 Cohort, we conducted interrupted time series analyses, estimating changes in HCV treatment initiation following the introduction of pandemic-related policies in March 2020. The study included a pre-policy period (April 2018 to March 2020) and three follow-up periods (April to December 2020, January to December 2021, and January to December 2022). The level of HCV treatment initiation decreased by 26% in April 2020 (rate ratio 0.74, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.60 to 0.91). Overall, no statistically significant difference in HCV treatment initiation occurred over the 2020 and 2021 post-policy periods, and an increase of 34.4% (95% CI 0.6 to 75.8) occurred in 2022 (equating to 321 additional people initiating treatment), relative to expectation. Decreases in HCV treatment initiation occurred in 2020 for people born between 1965 and 1974 (25.5%) and people who inject drugs (24.5%), relative to expectation. In summary, the pandemic was associated with short-term disruptions in HCV treatment initiation in BC, which were greater for people born 1965 to 1974 and people who inject drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard L. Morrow
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4R4, Canada; (R.L.M.); (J.L.); (M.I.); (S.R.B.); (S.W.); (D.J.); (J.D.M.); (J.W.); (A.Y.); (M.K.)
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Mawuena Binka
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4R4, Canada; (R.L.M.); (J.L.); (M.I.); (S.R.B.); (S.W.); (D.J.); (J.D.M.); (J.W.); (A.Y.); (M.K.)
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Julia Li
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4R4, Canada; (R.L.M.); (J.L.); (M.I.); (S.R.B.); (S.W.); (D.J.); (J.D.M.); (J.W.); (A.Y.); (M.K.)
| | - Mike Irvine
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4R4, Canada; (R.L.M.); (J.L.); (M.I.); (S.R.B.); (S.W.); (D.J.); (J.D.M.); (J.W.); (A.Y.); (M.K.)
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Sofia R. Bartlett
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4R4, Canada; (R.L.M.); (J.L.); (M.I.); (S.R.B.); (S.W.); (D.J.); (J.D.M.); (J.W.); (A.Y.); (M.K.)
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Stanley Wong
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4R4, Canada; (R.L.M.); (J.L.); (M.I.); (S.R.B.); (S.W.); (D.J.); (J.D.M.); (J.W.); (A.Y.); (M.K.)
| | - Dahn Jeong
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4R4, Canada; (R.L.M.); (J.L.); (M.I.); (S.R.B.); (S.W.); (D.J.); (J.D.M.); (J.W.); (A.Y.); (M.K.)
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Jean Damascene Makuza
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4R4, Canada; (R.L.M.); (J.L.); (M.I.); (S.R.B.); (S.W.); (D.J.); (J.D.M.); (J.W.); (A.Y.); (M.K.)
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Jason Wong
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4R4, Canada; (R.L.M.); (J.L.); (M.I.); (S.R.B.); (S.W.); (D.J.); (J.D.M.); (J.W.); (A.Y.); (M.K.)
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Amanda Yu
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4R4, Canada; (R.L.M.); (J.L.); (M.I.); (S.R.B.); (S.W.); (D.J.); (J.D.M.); (J.W.); (A.Y.); (M.K.)
| | - Mel Krajden
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4R4, Canada; (R.L.M.); (J.L.); (M.I.); (S.R.B.); (S.W.); (D.J.); (J.D.M.); (J.W.); (A.Y.); (M.K.)
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Naveed Zafar Janjua
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4R4, Canada; (R.L.M.); (J.L.); (M.I.); (S.R.B.); (S.W.); (D.J.); (J.D.M.); (J.W.); (A.Y.); (M.K.)
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, St Paul’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada
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Passos-Castilho AM, Murphy DG, Blouin K, Benedetti A, Panagiotoglou D, Bruneau J, Klein MB, Kwong JC, Sander B, Janjua NZ, Greenaway C. Ongoing Gaps in the Hepatitis C Care Cascade during the Direct-Acting Antiviral Era in a Large Retrospective Cohort in Canada: A Population-Based Study. Viruses 2024; 16:389. [PMID: 38543755 PMCID: PMC10975766 DOI: 10.3390/v16030389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
To achieve hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination, high uptake along the care cascade steps for all will be necessary. We mapped engagement with the care cascade overall and among priority groups in the post-direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) period and assessed if this changed relative to pre-DAAs. We created a population-based cohort of all reported HCV diagnoses in Quebec (1990-2018) and constructed the care cascade [antibody diagnosed, RNA tested, RNA positive, genotyped, treated, sustained virologic response (SVR)] in 2013 and 2018. Characteristics associated with RNA testing and treatment initiation were investigated using marginal logistic models via generalized estimating equations. Of the 31,439 individuals HCV-diagnosed in Quebec since 1990 and alive as of 2018, there was significant progress in engagement with the care cascade post- vs. pre-DAAs; 86% vs. 77% were RNA-tested, and 64% vs. 40% initiated treatment. As of 2018, a higher risk of not being RNA-tested or treated was observed among individuals born <1945 vs. >1965 [hazard ratio (HR); 95% CI; 1.35 (1.16-1.57)], those with material and social deprivation [1.21 (1.06-1.38)], and those with alcohol use disorder [1.21 (1.08-1.360]. Overall, non-immigrants had lower rates of RNA testing [0.76 (0.67-0.85)] and treatment initiation [0.63 (0.57-0.70)] than immigrants. As of 2018, PWID had a lower risk of not being RNA tested [0.67 (0.61-0.85)] but a similar risk of not being treated, compared to non-PWID. Engagement in the HCV care cascade have improved in the post-DAA era, but inequities remain. Vulnerable subgroups, including certain older immigrants, were less likely to have received RNA testing or treatment as of 2018 and would benefit from focused interventions to strengthen these steps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Maria Passos-Castilho
- Centre for Clinical Epidemiology, Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada
- Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 2M1, Canada
| | - Donald G. Murphy
- Laboratoire de Santé Publique du Québec, Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3R5, Canada;
| | - Karine Blouin
- Unité sur les Infections Transmissibles Sexuellement et par le Sang, Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, Québec, QC H9X 3R5, Canada;
| | - Andrea Benedetti
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, School of Population and Global Health, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1G1, Canada; (A.B.); (D.P.)
| | - Dimitra Panagiotoglou
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, School of Population and Global Health, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1G1, Canada; (A.B.); (D.P.)
| | - Julie Bruneau
- CHUM Research Centre, Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H2X 0A9, Canada;
| | - Marina B. Klein
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC H3H 2R9, Canada;
| | - Jeffrey C. Kwong
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 3M7, Canada;
- ICES, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, Canada;
- Public Health Ontario, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1, Canada
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1V7, Canada
| | - Beate Sander
- ICES, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, Canada;
- Public Health Ontario, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1, Canada
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 2C4, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (IHPME), University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 3M6, Canada
| | - Naveed Z. Janjua
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada;
| | - Christina Greenaway
- Centre for Clinical Epidemiology, Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada
- Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 2M1, Canada
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada
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Chiew BA, Fong AYP, Cosgrove LT, Mohajerani SA, Ramji A, Lee SS. Pharmacy-based screening program to detect hepatitis C in 'baby-boomer' cohorts in western Canada. CANADIAN LIVER JOURNAL 2023; 6:388-394. [PMID: 38152322 PMCID: PMC10751003 DOI: 10.3138/canlivj-2023-0005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Background The estimated prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Canada is approximately 1.0%. However, the number of individuals living with HCV but unaware of it is estimated to be 30%-44%. Increased screening programs that are accessible, effective, and feasible are important to ensure treatment and meet WHO elimination goals. We implemented an HCV point of care test (POCT) program in community pharmacies to examine the effectiveness and feasibility in screening. Methods Twenty two London Drugs pharmacies in British Columbia and Alberta implemented an HCV POC screening program using OraQuick rapid antibody tests. Consenting patients filled out a 10-question screening questionnaire to examine risk factors. The participants then were tested using the POCT. While waiting for the test (20 minutes), patients were educated on HCV and treatment options. Results Three hundred seventy-one participants underwent HCV screening. The most common HCV risk factor was being born between 1945 and 1975 (baby boomer) (93% of cohort), while the second most common was having a tattoo or body piercing (22%). Seven people (2%) tested positive; four were HCV-RNA PCR-positive and were treated, whereas the PCR status of three was unknown as they were lost to follow-up or not tested. Conclusions Pharmacy-based POCT was shown to be effective and feasible in the western Canadian context, especially for baby boomers. Sustainable funding for pharmacy screening programs may be considered nationwide to identify HCV-infected persons and help meet elimination goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon A Chiew
- Liver Unit, University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Anita YP Fong
- London Drugs, 12831 Horseshoe Place, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Linh T Cosgrove
- London Drugs, 12831 Horseshoe Place, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Seyed Amir Mohajerani
- Division of Gastroenterology, St Paul’s Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Alnoor Ramji
- Division of Gastroenterology, St Paul’s Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Samuel S Lee
- Liver Unit, University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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7
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Lee NR, King A, Vigil D, Mullaney D, Sanderson PR, Ametepee T, Hammitt LL. Infectious diseases in Indigenous populations in North America: learning from the past to create a more equitable future. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2023; 23:e431-e444. [PMID: 37148904 PMCID: PMC10156139 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(23)00190-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, although a profound reminder of endured injustices by and the disparate impact of infectious diseases on Indigenous populations, has also served as an example of Indigenous strength and the ability to thrive anew. Many infectious diseases share common risk factors that are directly tied to the ongoing effects of colonisation. We provide historical context and case studies that illustrate both challenges and successes related to infectious disease mitigation in Indigenous populations in the USA and Canada. Infectious disease disparities, driven by persistent inequities in socioeconomic determinants of health, underscore the urgent need for action. We call on governments, public health leaders, industry representatives, and researchers to reject harmful research practices and to adopt a framework for achieving sustainable improvements in the health of Indigenous people that is both adequately resourced and grounded in respect for tribal sovereignty and Indigenous knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naomi R Lee
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - Alexandra King
- College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Deionna Vigil
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Dustin Mullaney
- Department of Biology, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - Priscilla R Sanderson
- Department of Health Sciences, College of Health and Human Services, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - Taiwo Ametepee
- College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Laura L Hammitt
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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8
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Williams KP, Dunn KPR, Lee SS. The Canadian hepatitis C treatment landscape: Time to turn chaos into order. CANADIAN LIVER JOURNAL 2023; 6:187-189. [PMID: 37503522 PMCID: PMC10370726 DOI: 10.3138/canlivj-2023-0008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kienan P Williams
- Indigenous Wellness Core, Alberta Health Services, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Kate PR Dunn
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Cumming School of Medicine, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Project ECHO HCV, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Samuel S Lee
- Project ECHO HCV, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Liver Unit, University of Calgary, Cumming School of Medicine, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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