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Steimle L, Fleißner S, Haltmayer H, Beck T, Springer A, Stöver H. First German-speaking harm reduction conference in Vienna. Harm Reduct J 2024; 21:12. [PMID: 38229089 DOI: 10.1186/s12954-024-00932-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The first Harm Reduction DACH Conference [DACH = D (Germany), A (Austria), CH (Switzerland)] took place in Vienna on June 23rd, 2023, and focused on tobacco harm reduction. It is the first conference bringing together various experts of all three German-speaking countries to shed light on the subject of destigmatization and tobacco harm reduction and to share their experiences with the audience. All in all, the first German-speaking harm reduction conference has the goal to discuss and expand harm reduction in the German-speaking countries. This meeting report gives a brief overview of the conference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa Steimle
- Institute of Addiction Research, Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Simon Fleißner
- Institute of Addiction Research, Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, Frankfurt, Germany.
| | | | - Thilo Beck
- Arud Centre for Addiction Medicine, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Heino Stöver
- Institute of Addiction Research, Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, Frankfurt, Germany
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Schwarz C, Schubert R, Schwarz M, Schütz A, Jenke A, Bauer D, Steinwender B, Gutic E, Reiberger T, Haltmayer H, Gschwantler M. CHIME - A tailored HCV microelimination project in Viennese people who inject drugs at drug centralized substitution centers. J Virus Erad 2023; 9:100338. [PMID: 37663576 PMCID: PMC10474458 DOI: 10.1016/j.jve.2023.100338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Hepatitis C remains highly prevalent among people who inject drugs (PWIDs). We propose an integrated approach for screening/diagnostic testing and treatment in 6,665 Viennese PWIDs registered to access opioid agonist therapy (OAT). Methods OAT prescriptions were required monthly at one of nine approved authorities, making them ideal platforms for hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening. All PWIDs attending these authorities between January 2019 and March 2020 were offered on-site HCV screening, and consecutive HCV RNA PCR in case of positive HCV serology. In HCV viremic PWIDs, offsite referral to HCV care and treatment according to directly observed therapy (DOT) alongside OAT were performed. Results 4,327/6,665 (64.9%) individuals were contacted before the COVID-19-related project discontinuation. There were 1,538/4,327 (35.5%) individuals who had participated in the study. HCV serology was available in 1,510/1,538 (98.2%): 795/1,519 (52.6%) had a positive serology, among whom 632 (79.5%) were followed-up with a PCR test. In 8/1,538 (0.5%) additional study participants HCV RNA PCR was assessed without prior serological screening. 239/640 (37.3%) individuals were HCV viremic with 51 (21.3%) having started on direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). 48/51 (94.1%) had completed treatment, among whom 42 (87.5% according to ITT) had achieved sustained virologic response at 12 weeks after completing treatment (SVR12) and 6 (12.5%) had been lost to follow-up after completion of therapy (SVR12 according to mITT: 42/42, 100%). No treatment failures had occurred. Conclusion Providing integrated point-of-care HCV screening/diagnostic testing at central OAT approved centers, followed by DOT with DAAs, represents an effective HCV microelimination strategy. While some PWIDs were lost in the cascade to cure and the absolute number of SVR was limited by the COVID-19 pandemic, our approach will allow linkage to care in a large proportion of Viennese PWIDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Schwarz
- Klinik Ottakring, Department of Internal Medicine IV, Vienna, Austria
- Medical University of Vienna, Department of Internal Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Vienna, Austria
- Vienna HIV & Liver Study Group, Vienna, Austria
| | - Raphael Schubert
- Suchthilfe Wien gGmbH, Ambulatorium Suchthilfe Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Schwarz
- Klinik Ottakring, Department of Internal Medicine IV, Vienna, Austria
- Medical University of Vienna, Department of Internal Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Vienna, Austria
- Vienna HIV & Liver Study Group, Vienna, Austria
| | - Angelika Schütz
- Suchthilfe Wien gGmbH, Ambulatorium Suchthilfe Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anika Jenke
- Suchthilfe Wien gGmbH, Ambulatorium Suchthilfe Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - David Bauer
- Klinik Ottakring, Department of Internal Medicine IV, Vienna, Austria
- Medical University of Vienna, Department of Internal Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Vienna, Austria
- Vienna HIV & Liver Study Group, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Enisa Gutic
- Klinik Ottakring, Department of Internal Medicine IV, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Reiberger
- Medical University of Vienna, Department of Internal Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Vienna, Austria
- Vienna HIV & Liver Study Group, Vienna, Austria
| | - Hans Haltmayer
- Suchthilfe Wien gGmbH, Ambulatorium Suchthilfe Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Gschwantler
- Klinik Ottakring, Department of Internal Medicine IV, Vienna, Austria
- Sigmund Freud University, Vienna, Austria
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Schwarz M, Schwarz C, Schütz A, Schwanke C, Krabb E, Schubert R, Liebich ST, Bauer D, Burghart L, Brinkmann L, Gutic E, Reiberger T, Haltmayer H, Gschwantler M. Combining treatment for chronic hepatitis C with opioid agonist therapy is an effective microelimination strategy for people who inject drugs with high risk of non-adherence to antiviral therapy. J Virus Erad 2023; 9:100319. [PMID: 36970063 PMCID: PMC10036924 DOI: 10.1016/j.jve.2023.100319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background & aims Despite effective direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence is high among people who inject drugs (PWIDs) and non-adherence to therapy remains a major obstacle towards HCV elimination in this subpopulation. To overcome this issue, we have combined ongoing opioid agonist therapy (OAT) with DAAs in a directly-observed therapy (DOT) setting. Method From September 2014 until January 2021 PWIDs at high risk of non-adherence to DAA therapy, who were also on OAT, were included into this microelimination project. Individuals received their OAT and DAAs under supervision of healthcare workers as DOT in a pharmacy or low-threshold facility. Results In total, 504 HCV RNA-positive PWIDs on OAT (387 men, 76.8%; median age: 38 years [IQR 33-45], HIV: 4.6%; hepatitis B: 1.4%) were included into this study. Two thirds reported ongoing intravenous drug use (IDU) and half of them had no permanent housing. Only 41 (8.1%) were lost to follow-up and two (0.4%) died of reasons unrelated to DAA toxicity. Overall, 90.7% of PWIDs achieved sustained virological response 12 weeks after treatment (SVR12) (95% CI: 88.1-93.2%). By excluding those lost to follow-up and hose who had died of causes unrelated to DAAs, the SVR12 rate was 99.1% (95% CI: 98.3-100.0%; modified intention-to-treat analysis). Four PWIDs (0.9%) experienced treatment failure. Over a median follow-up of 24 weeks (IQR 12-39), 27 reinfections (5.9%) were observed in individuals with the highest IDU rates (81.2%). Importantly, even though some were lost to follow-up, all completed their DAA treatment. By using DOT, adherence to DAAs was excellent with only a total of 86 missed doses (0.3% of 25,224 doses). Conclusions In this difficult-to-treat population of PWIDs with high rates of IDU , coupling DAA treatment to OAT in a DOT setting resulted in high SVR12 rates equivalent to conventional treatment settings in non-PWID populations.
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Krausz M, Westenberg JN, Tsang V, Suen J, Ignaszewski MJ, Mathew N, Azar P, Cabanis M, Elsner J, Vogel M, Spijkerman R, Orsolini L, Vo D, Moore E, Moe J, Strasser J, Köck P, Marian C, Dürsteler KM, Backmund M, Röhrig J, Post M, Haltmayer H, Wladika W, Trabi T, Muller C, Rechberger G, Teesson M, Farrell M, Christie G, Merry S, Mamdouh M, Alinsky R, Levy S, Fishman M, Rosenthal R, Jang K, Choi F. Towards an International Consensus on the Prevention, Treatment, and Management of High-Risk Substance Use and Overdose among Youth. Medicina (B Aires) 2022; 58:medicina58040539. [PMID: 35454376 PMCID: PMC9028633 DOI: 10.3390/medicina58040539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Now more than ever, there is an obvious need to reduce the overall burden of disease and risk of premature mortality that are associated with mental health and substance use disorders among young people. However, the current state of research and evidence-based clinical care for high-risk substance use among youth is fragmented and scarce. The objective of the study is to establish consensus for the prevention, treatment, and management of high-risk substance use and overdose among youth (10 to 24 years old). Materials and Methods: A modified Delphi technique was used based on the combination of scientific evidence and clinical experience of a group of 31 experts representing 10 countries. A semi-structured questionnaire with five domains (clinical risks, target populations, intervention goals, intervention strategies, and settings/expertise) was shared with the panelists. Based on their responses, statements were developed, which were subsequently revised and finalized through three iterations of feedback. Results: Among the five major domains, 60 statements reached consensus. Importantly, experts agreed that screening in primary care and other clinical settings is recommended for all youth, and that the objectives of treating youth with high-risk substance use are to reduce harm and mortality while promoting resilience and healthy development. For all substance use disorders, evidence-based interventions should be available and should be used according to the needs and preferences of the patient. Involuntary admission was the only topic that did not reach consensus, mainly due to its ethical implications and resulting lack of comparable evidence. Conclusions: High-risk substance use and overdoses among youth have become a major challenge. The system’s response has been insufficient and needs substantial change. Internationally devised consensus statements provide a first step in system improvement and reform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Krausz
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 2A1, Canada; (M.K.); (V.T.); (J.S.); (M.J.I.); (N.M.); (P.A.); (M.M.); (K.J.); (F.C.)
| | - Jean N. Westenberg
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 2A1, Canada; (M.K.); (V.T.); (J.S.); (M.J.I.); (N.M.); (P.A.); (M.M.); (K.J.); (F.C.)
- Center for Mental Health, Clinic for Addiction Medicine and Addictive Behavior, Klinikum Stuttgart, 70374 Stuttgart, Germany; (M.C.); (J.R.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-604-827-4381
| | - Vivian Tsang
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 2A1, Canada; (M.K.); (V.T.); (J.S.); (M.J.I.); (N.M.); (P.A.); (M.M.); (K.J.); (F.C.)
| | - Janet Suen
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 2A1, Canada; (M.K.); (V.T.); (J.S.); (M.J.I.); (N.M.); (P.A.); (M.M.); (K.J.); (F.C.)
| | - Martha J. Ignaszewski
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 2A1, Canada; (M.K.); (V.T.); (J.S.); (M.J.I.); (N.M.); (P.A.); (M.M.); (K.J.); (F.C.)
- Complex Pain and Addiction Service, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada
- BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada;
| | - Nickie Mathew
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 2A1, Canada; (M.K.); (V.T.); (J.S.); (M.J.I.); (N.M.); (P.A.); (M.M.); (K.J.); (F.C.)
- Complex Pain and Addiction Service, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada
- BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services, Provincial Health Services Authority, Vancouver, BC V5Z 3L7, Canada
| | - Pouya Azar
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 2A1, Canada; (M.K.); (V.T.); (J.S.); (M.J.I.); (N.M.); (P.A.); (M.M.); (K.J.); (F.C.)
- Complex Pain and Addiction Service, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada
| | - Maurice Cabanis
- Center for Mental Health, Clinic for Addiction Medicine and Addictive Behavior, Klinikum Stuttgart, 70374 Stuttgart, Germany; (M.C.); (J.R.)
| | - Julie Elsner
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatric University Clinics Basel, University of Basel, 4002 Basel, Switzerland; (J.E.); (M.V.); (J.S.); (P.K.); (C.M.); (K.M.D.)
| | - Marc Vogel
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatric University Clinics Basel, University of Basel, 4002 Basel, Switzerland; (J.E.); (M.V.); (J.S.); (P.K.); (C.M.); (K.M.D.)
- Psychiatric Services of Thurgovia, Division of Substance Use Disorders, 8596 Münsterlingen, Switzerland
| | - Renske Spijkerman
- Parnassia Addiction Research Centre (PARC), Brijder Addiction Treatment, Parnassia Group, 2512 The Hague, The Netherlands; (R.S.); (M.P.)
| | - Laura Orsolini
- Unit of Clinical Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences/DIMSC, School of Medicine and Surgery, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60121 Ancona, Italy;
- Psychopharmacology, Drug Misuse and Novel Psychoactive Substances Research Unit, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9EU, UK
| | - Dzung Vo
- BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada;
- Division of Adolescent Health and Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada;
| | - Eva Moore
- Division of Adolescent Health and Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada;
| | - Jessica Moe
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada;
- BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4R4, Canada
| | - Johannes Strasser
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatric University Clinics Basel, University of Basel, 4002 Basel, Switzerland; (J.E.); (M.V.); (J.S.); (P.K.); (C.M.); (K.M.D.)
| | - Patrick Köck
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatric University Clinics Basel, University of Basel, 4002 Basel, Switzerland; (J.E.); (M.V.); (J.S.); (P.K.); (C.M.); (K.M.D.)
| | - Calin Marian
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatric University Clinics Basel, University of Basel, 4002 Basel, Switzerland; (J.E.); (M.V.); (J.S.); (P.K.); (C.M.); (K.M.D.)
| | - Kenneth M. Dürsteler
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatric University Clinics Basel, University of Basel, 4002 Basel, Switzerland; (J.E.); (M.V.); (J.S.); (P.K.); (C.M.); (K.M.D.)
| | - Markus Backmund
- Praxiszentrum im Tal, 80331 Munich, Germany;
- Ludwig-Maximilians-University, 80539 Munich, Germany
| | - Jeanette Röhrig
- Center for Mental Health, Clinic for Addiction Medicine and Addictive Behavior, Klinikum Stuttgart, 70374 Stuttgart, Germany; (M.C.); (J.R.)
| | - Marianne Post
- Parnassia Addiction Research Centre (PARC), Brijder Addiction Treatment, Parnassia Group, 2512 The Hague, The Netherlands; (R.S.); (M.P.)
| | | | - Wolfgang Wladika
- Department of Neurology and Psychiatry of Childhood and Adolescence, Klinikum Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, 9020 Klagenfurt, Austria;
| | - Thomas Trabi
- Department for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Pschotherapy, LKH Graz II, 8053 Graz, Austria;
| | - Christian Muller
- Department of Child & Youth Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychosocial Service Burgenland GmbH, 7000 Eisenstadt, Austria;
| | - Gerhard Rechberger
- Verein Dialog, Integrative Suchtberatung Gudrunstraße, 1100 Wien, Austria;
| | - Maree Teesson
- The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia;
| | - Michael Farrell
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia;
| | - Grant Christie
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland 1023, New Zealand; (G.C.); (S.M.)
| | - Sally Merry
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland 1023, New Zealand; (G.C.); (S.M.)
| | - Mostafa Mamdouh
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 2A1, Canada; (M.K.); (V.T.); (J.S.); (M.J.I.); (N.M.); (P.A.); (M.M.); (K.J.); (F.C.)
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Egypt
| | - Rachel Alinsky
- Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA;
| | - Sharon Levy
- Adolescent Substance Use and Addiction Program, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
| | - Marc Fishman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA;
- Mountain Manor Treatment Center, Baltimore, MD 21229, USA
| | - Richard Rosenthal
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Stony Brook University, New York, NY 11794, USA;
| | - Kerry Jang
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 2A1, Canada; (M.K.); (V.T.); (J.S.); (M.J.I.); (N.M.); (P.A.); (M.M.); (K.J.); (F.C.)
| | - Fiona Choi
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 2A1, Canada; (M.K.); (V.T.); (J.S.); (M.J.I.); (N.M.); (P.A.); (M.M.); (K.J.); (F.C.)
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Schmidbauer C, Schwarz M, Schütz A, Schubert R, Schwanke C, Gutic E, Pirker R, Lang T, Reiberger T, Haltmayer H, Gschwantler M. Directly observed therapy at opioid substitution facilities using sofosbuvir/velpatasvir results in excellent SVR12 rates in PWIDs at high risk for non-adherence to DAA therapy. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0252274. [PMID: 34086708 PMCID: PMC8177501 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background & aims We evaluated the effectiveness of sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (SOF/VEL) in difficult-to-treat PWIDs with presumed high risk for non-adherence to antiviral therapy using an innovative concept involving their opioid agonist therapy (OAT) facility. Methods N = 221 patients (m/f: 168/53; median age: 44.7 years (IQR 16.9); HCV-genotype 3: 45.2%; cirrhosis: 33.9%) treated with SOF/VEL were included. PWIDs at high risk for non-adherence to DAA therapy (n = 122) received HCV treatment alongside OAT under the supervision of medical staff ("directly observed therapy", DOT). These patients were compared to patients with presumed excellent drug compliance, who were treated in a "standard setting" (SS) of SOF/VEL prescription at a tertiary care center (n = 99). Results DOT-patients (n = 122/221; 55.2%) were younger than SS-patients (median age: 41.3 vs. 53.0 years), all had psychiatric comorbidities and most had a poor socioeconomic status. 83/122 (68.0%) reported ongoing intravenous drug use. Within the DOT-group, SVR12 was achieved in 99.1% (95% CI: 95.0–100; n = 109/110) with one patient experiencing treatment failure, while n = 12/122 (9.8%) patients were excluded due to loss of follow-up (FU). 5 patients showed HCV reinfection after achieving SVR12. SS-patients achieved SVR in 96.6% (95% CI: 90.3–99.3%; n = 84/87) after exclusion of 10/99 (10.1%) patients who were lost to FU and 2 patients who died prior to SVR12 due to reasons not related to DAA therapy. Conclusions SOF/VEL given as DOT along with OAT in PWIDs at high risk of non-adherence to antiviral therapy including those with ongoing intravenous drug use resulted in excellent SVR rates similar to patients with presumed “excellent compliance” under standard drug intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Schmidbauer
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, Klinik Ottakring, Vienna, Austria
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Vienna HIV & Liver Study Group, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Schwarz
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, Klinik Ottakring, Vienna, Austria
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Vienna HIV & Liver Study Group, Vienna, Austria
| | - Angelika Schütz
- Ambulatorium Suchthilfe Wien, Suchthilfe Wien gGmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Raphael Schubert
- Ambulatorium Suchthilfe Wien, Suchthilfe Wien gGmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Cornelia Schwanke
- Ambulatorium Suchthilfe Wien, Suchthilfe Wien gGmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Enisa Gutic
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, Klinik Ottakring, Vienna, Austria
| | - Roxana Pirker
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, Klinik Ottakring, Vienna, Austria
| | - Tobias Lang
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, Klinik Ottakring, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Reiberger
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Vienna HIV & Liver Study Group, Vienna, Austria
| | - Hans Haltmayer
- Ambulatorium Suchthilfe Wien, Suchthilfe Wien gGmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Gschwantler
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, Klinik Ottakring, Vienna, Austria
- Sigmund Freud University, Vienna, Austria
- * E-mail:
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Busch M, Klein C, Uhl A, Haltmayer H, Cabanis M, Westenberg JN, Vogel M, Krausz RM. Retention in the Austrian opioid agonist treatment system: a national prospective cohort study. Harm Reduct J 2021; 18:25. [PMID: 33627159 PMCID: PMC7903033 DOI: 10.1186/s12954-021-00473-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Retention in care is a prerequisite for successful recovery, especially for a chronic condition like opioid dependence. Though retention varies greatly depending on the different substitution medication and treatment model, treatment retention is used as an indicator of treatment quality and effectiveness of care on a system and individual level. To monitor the overall quality of the Austrian opioid agonist treatment (OAT) system and to monitor patient satisfaction within the system, a new online-based registry called "eSuchmittel" was introduced in Austria at the beginning of 2011. The objective of this study is to analyze retention rates within the Austrian treatment system and to identify patient characteristics associated with retention, using data collected by the substitution registry. METHODS The complete Austrian sample of 4778 registered patients starting treatment between 1.1.2011 to 31.12.2012 were included in the prospective cohort study using data from the Austrian substitution registry. For the statistical analysis, multivariate Cox Regression and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis were used to evaluate retention in treatment. RESULTS The retention rate of the total cohort after two years was around 61%. Retention rates were significantly lower for men (exp(B) = .806, 95% CI 0.714-0.908) and significantly higher for patients aged 30 and older (exp(B) = 1.155, 95% CI 1.044-1.279), among patients located in Vienna (exp(B) = 1.439, 95% CI 1.273-1.626) and among patients prescribed oral slow-release morphine (SROM) (exp(B) = 2.141, 95% CI 1.885-2.430). CONCLUSIONS Average retention in the Austrian system is high in comparison to international retention rates. Nationally, SROM demonstrates higher treatment retention when compared to other available substitution medications. Sociodemographic and regional indicators also contribute to higher retention in care. A systematic monitoring of retention rates within a national registry is an important tool helping to evaluate the quality of care. In this study, the Austrian OAT system proves very high retention in care, an important success criterion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Busch
- Gesundheit Österreich GmbH (GÖG), Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Alfred Uhl
- Gesundheit Österreich GmbH (GÖG), Vienna, Austria
- Sigmund Freud University, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Maurice Cabanis
- Zentrum Für Seelische Gesundheit, Klinikum Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Jean Nicolas Westenberg
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Addictions and Concurrent Disorders Research Group, Institute of Mental Health, University of British Columbia, David Strangway Building, 5950 University Boulevard, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3 Canada
| | - Marc Vogel
- Psychiatrische Klinik Münsterlingen, Münsterlingen, Switzerland
| | - R. Michael Krausz
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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Schmidbauer C, Schubert R, Schütz A, Schwanke C, Luhn J, Gutic E, Pirker R, Lang T, Reiberger T, Haltmayer H, Gschwantler M. Directly observed therapy for HCV with glecaprevir/pibrentasvir alongside opioid substitution in people who inject drugs-First real world data from Austria. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0229239. [PMID: 32155165 PMCID: PMC7064180 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0229239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Directly acting antivirals (DAA) against hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection have facilitated sustained virologic response (SVR) rates >90% in clinical studies. Yet, real life data regarding DAA treatment in people who inject drugs (PWIDs) are scarce. We evaluated the effectiveness of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (G/P) in difficult-to-treat PWIDs with presumed high risk of non-adherence to DAA therapy using the concept of directly observed therapy involving their opioid substitution therapy (OST) facility. Methods N = 145 patients (m/f: 91/54; median age: 41.1 (IQR 19.5) years; HCV-genotype (GT) 1/2/3/4: 82/1/56/5, GT3: 38.6%; cirrhosis: n = 6; 4.1%) treated with G/P were included. PWIDs at high risk for non-adherence to DAA therapy received HCV treatment together with their OST under the supervision of medical staff ("directly observed therapy", DOT). The effectiveness of G/P given as DOT in PWIDs with presumed high risk of non-adherence to DAA therapy was compared to patients with suspected “excellent compliance” in the "standard setting" (SS) of G/P prescription at a tertiary care center and self-managed G/P intake at home. Treatment duration was 8–16 weeks according to the G/P drug label. Results DOT-patients (n = 74/145; 51.0%) were younger than SS-patients (median 38.7, IQR 12.5 vs. median 50.6, IQR 20.3 years), all had psychiatric co-morbidities and most had a poor socioeconomic status. 50/74 (67.6%) reported ongoing intravenous drug use (IDU). SVR was achieved in n = 70/74 (94.6%) patients with n = 3 being lost to follow-up (FU) and n = 1 showing nonresponse to therapy. SS-patients achieved SVR in 97.2% (69/71) with n = 1 patient being lost to FU and n = 1 patient with GT3 showing HCV relapse. Conclusion G/P given as DOT along with OST in PWIDs with high risk of non-adherence to DAA therapy resulted in similarly high SVR rates (94.6%) as in patients with presumed “excellent compliance” under standard drug intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Schmidbauer
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, Wilhelminenspital, Vienna, Austria
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Vienna HIV & Liver Study Group, Vienna, Austria
| | - Raphael Schubert
- Ambulatorium Suchthilfe Wien, Suchthilfe Wien gGmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Angelika Schütz
- Ambulatorium Suchthilfe Wien, Suchthilfe Wien gGmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Cornelia Schwanke
- Ambulatorium Suchthilfe Wien, Suchthilfe Wien gGmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julian Luhn
- Ambulatorium Suchthilfe Wien, Suchthilfe Wien gGmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Enisa Gutic
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, Wilhelminenspital, Vienna, Austria
| | - Roxana Pirker
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, Wilhelminenspital, Vienna, Austria
| | - Tobias Lang
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, Wilhelminenspital, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Reiberger
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Vienna HIV & Liver Study Group, Vienna, Austria
| | - Hans Haltmayer
- Ambulatorium Suchthilfe Wien, Suchthilfe Wien gGmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Gschwantler
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, Wilhelminenspital, Vienna, Austria
- Sigmund Freud University, Vienna, Austria
- * E-mail:
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Schütz A, Moser S, Schwanke C, Schubert R, Luhn J, Gutic E, Lang T, Schleicher M, Haltmayer H, Gschwantler M. Directly observed therapy of chronic hepatitis C with ledipasvir/sofosbuvir in people who inject drugs at risk of nonadherence to direct-acting antivirals. J Viral Hepat 2018; 25:870-873. [PMID: 29316001 DOI: 10.1111/jvh.12857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Accepted: 11/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
An important subgroup of people who inject drugs (PWID) receiving opioid agonist therapy (OAT) cannot be treated in the setting of a hepatology centre and would not regularly ingest their medication when handed to them for self-administration. Our hypothesis was that chronic hepatitis C in these patients could be ideally managed if modern, interferon-free regimens were administered together with OAT under direct observation of a physician or nurse at a low-threshold facility. In this open-label, noninterventional, proof-of-concept study (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02638233), 40 PWID at risk of nonadherence to direct-acting antivirals (DAA) and previously untreated chronic hepatitis C virus genotype 1 infection without cirrhosis were treated with ledipasvir/sofosbuvir for 8 weeks. Patients received antiviral treatment together with OAT under direct observation of a physician or nurse at a low-threshold facility. By following the concept of directly observed therapy, excellent adherence to antiviral therapy was achieved as follows: only 0.16% (95% CI: 0.03-0.47) of scheduled dates for ingestion of the antiviral therapy in combination with OAT were missed by the 40 patients. The rate of sustained virological response 12 weeks after end of therapy was 100% (95% CI: 91.2-100.0). Between week 12 and week 24 of follow-up reinfections were recorded in 2 of 40 patients (5%). Directly observed therapy of chronic hepatitis C is highly effective in PWID at risk of nonadherence to DAA. By this new concept, a group of difficult-to-treat patients can be cured, who could not have been treated in settings of studies published so far.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Schütz
- Suchthilfe Wien gGmbH, Ambulatorium Suchthilfe Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - S Moser
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, Wilhelminenspital, Vienna, Austria
| | - C Schwanke
- Suchthilfe Wien gGmbH, Ambulatorium Suchthilfe Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - R Schubert
- Suchthilfe Wien gGmbH, Ambulatorium Suchthilfe Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - J Luhn
- Suchthilfe Wien gGmbH, Ambulatorium Suchthilfe Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - E Gutic
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, Wilhelminenspital, Vienna, Austria
| | - T Lang
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, Wilhelminenspital, Vienna, Austria
| | - M Schleicher
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, Wilhelminenspital, Vienna, Austria
| | - H Haltmayer
- Suchthilfe Wien gGmbH, Ambulatorium Suchthilfe Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - M Gschwantler
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, Wilhelminenspital, Vienna, Austria.,Sigmund Freud University, Vienna, Austria
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