Barriers And Facilitators Of Hepatitis C (HCV) Treatment Initiation Among People Who Inject Drugs In The Era Of New Direct Acting Antivirals


Author: Makarenko I, Artenie A, Minoyan N, Hoj S, Jutras-Aswad D, Bruneau J

Theme: Epidemiology & Public Health Research Year: 2018

Background:
People who inject drugs (PWID) are the primary group at risk for HCV in Canada. Enhanced
access to harm reduction and treatment is needed to reduce HCV burden in this population.
Understanding factors impeding and facilitating access to treatment among PWID is crucial during
transition to simpler treatment options, to reach WHO elimination targets by 2030.
Methods:
A sample of 354 HCV RNA positive PWID that contributed to 1722 of total follow-up visits between
2011-2017 was drawn from the HEPCO, an ongoing prospective community-based cohort study
conducted in Montreal, Canada. Time-updated Cox regression models were used to examine
factors associated with HCV treatment initiation. Multivariable models were stratified by the period
of new direct acting antivirals (DAAs) availability: 1)2011-2013 – DAA+interferon (IFN); 2)2014-
2017 – DAA INF-free era.
Results:
Out of 354 HCV-infected participants 80 (22.6%) PWID initiated HCV treatment over a 6-year
follow-up period. The study sample was mostly males (82.5%) and mean age was 40 years. In
multivariable analysis, seeing a family physician was consistently associated with treatment
initiation over time (DAA+IFN era: aHR=3.37, 95%CI=1.23,9.19; DAA INF-free era:
2.30(1.26,4.19)), whereas frequent injection was negatively associated with the outcome
(0.22(0.05,0.93) and 0.47(0.24,0.95)). Additionally, during the DAA+IFN era, cocaine use was
negatively associated with treatment initiation. During the DAA IFN-free era, participants at age >40
years (2.30(1.26,4.19)), those on opioid agonist treatment (OAT) (2.27(1.25,4.11) and with previous
treatment experience (2.93(1.71,5.02) were more likely to initiate treatment.
Conclusion:
Among PWID, HCV treatment initiation is still low. Seeing a family physician is key to facilitate
treatment initiation. Our results also suggest that first to initiate treatment in the INF-free DAA era
were those already engaged by being on OAT or previous treatment experience. These findings
underscore that access to primary healthcare and OAT is essential but not enough to upscale
treatment among PWID.
Disclosure of Interest:
There is no conflict of interest to declare.

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