1
|
Passos-Castilho AM, Udhesister STP, Fontaine G, Jeong D, Dickie M, Lund C, Russell R, Kronfli N. The 11th Canadian Symposium on Hepatitis C Virus: 'Getting back on track towards hepatitis C elimination'. CANADIAN LIVER JOURNAL 2023; 6:56-69. [PMID: 36908576 PMCID: PMC9997521 DOI: 10.3138/canlivj-2022-0034] [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: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) affects approximately 204,000 Canadians. Safe and effective direct-acting antiviral therapies have contributed to decreased rates of chronic HCV infection and increased treatment uptake in Canada, but major challenges for HCV elimination remain. The 11th Canadian Symposium on Hepatitis C Virus took place in Ottawa, Ontario on May 13, 2022 as a hybrid conference themed 'Getting back on track towards hepatitis C elimination.' It brought together research scientists, clinicians, community health workers, patient advocates, community members, and public health officials to discuss priorities for HCV elimination in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which had devastating effects on HCV care in Canada, particularly on priority populations. Plenary sessions showcased topical research from prominent international and national researchers, complemented by select abstract presentations. This event was hosted by the Canadian Network on Hepatitis C (CanHepC), with support from the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and in partnership with the Canadian Liver Meeting. CanHepC has an established record in HCV research and in advocacy activities to address improved diagnosis and treatment, and immediate and long-term needs of those affected by HCV infection. The Symposium addressed the remaining challenges and barriers to HCV elimination in priority populations and principles for meaningful engagement of Indigenous communities and individuals with living and lived experience in HCV research. It emphasized the need for disaggregated data and simplified pathways for creating and monitoring interventions for equitably achieving elimination targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Maria Passos-Castilho
- Centre for Clinical Epidemiology, Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Sasha Tejna Persaud Udhesister
- Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Centre de Recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montré (CRCHUM), Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Guillaume Fontaine
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Dahn Jeong
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Melisa Dickie
- Community Health Programming, CATIE, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Rodney Russell
- Division of BioMedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Nadine Kronfli
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Chronic Viral Illness Service, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Li J, Casey JL, Greenwald ZR, Yasseen III AS, Dickie M, Feld JJ, Cooper CL, Crawley AM. The 9th Canadian Symposium on Hepatitis C Virus: Advances in HCV research and treatment towards elimination. CANADIAN LIVER JOURNAL 2021; 4:59-71. [DOI: 10.3138/canlivj-2020-0026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination has evolved into a coordinated global effort. Canada, with more than 250,000 chronically infected individuals, is among the countries leading this effort. The 9th Canadian Symposium on HCV, held in February 2020, thus established and addressed its theme, ‘advances in HCV research and treatment towards elimination’, by gathering together basic scientists, clinicians, epidemiologists, social scientists, and community members interested in HCV research in Canada. Plenary sessions showcased topical research from prominent international and national researchers, complemented by select abstract presentations. This event was hosted by the Canadian Network on Hepatitis C (CanHepC), with support from the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and in partnership with the Canadian Liver Meeting. CanHepC has an established record in HCV research by its members and in its advocacy activities to address the care, treatment, diagnosis, and immediate and long-term needs of those affected by HCV infection. Many challenges remain in tackling chronic HCV infection, such as the need for a vaccine; difficult-to-treat populations and unknown aspects of patient subgroups, including pregnant women and children; vulnerable people; and issues distinct to Indigenous peoples. There is also increasing concern about long-term clinical outcomes after successful treatment, with the rise in comorbidities such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and fatty liver disease and the remaining risk for hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic individuals. The symposium addressed these topics in highlighting research advances that will collectively play an important role in eliminating HCV and minimizing subsequent health challenges.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiafeng Li
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Chronic Disease Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Centre for Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Julia L Casey
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Zoë R Greenwald
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Abdool S Yasseen III
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Melisa Dickie
- Knowledge Exchange Division, Community AIDS Treatment Information Exchange, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jordan J Feld
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Toronto Centre for Liver Disease, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Curtis L Cooper
- Centre for Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Infectious Diseases, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Angela M Crawley
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Chronic Disease Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Centre for Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Palayew A, Razavi H, Hutchinson SJ, Cooke GS, Lazarus JV. Do the most heavily burdened countries have the right policies to eliminate viral hepatitis B and C? Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol 2020; 5:948-953. [PMID: 32730784 DOI: 10.1016/s2468-1253(20)30011-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Revised: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In 2019, a Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology Commission on accelerating the elimination of viral hepatitis reported on the status of 11 viral hepatitis policy indicators in 66 countries and territories with the heaviest burden by global region. Policies were reported as being either in place, in development, or not in place. This study uses the Commission findings to estimate hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) policy scores and rankings for these 66 countries and territories. We applied a multiple correspondence analysis technique to reduce data on policy indicators into a weighted summary for the HBV and HCV policies. We calculated HBV and HCV policy scores for each country. Countries and territories that received higher scores had more policies in place and in development than did countries with lower scores. The highest scoring country for HBV was Australia, whereas Somalia had the lowest score. For the HCV policy score, Australia and New Zealand had perfect scores, whereas Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen had the lowest scores, all having no policy indicators in place.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adam Palayew
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Homie Razavi
- Center for Disease Analysis Foundation, Lafayette, CO, USA
| | - Sharon J Hutchinson
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK
| | - Graham S Cooke
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Jeffrey V Lazarus
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|