Publication

Back to overview

Incident Hepatitis C Virus Infections in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study: Changes in Treatment Uptake and Outcomes Between 1991 and 2013.

Type of publication Peer-reviewed
Publikationsform Original article (peer-reviewed)
Author Wandeler Gilles, Schlauri Marion, Jaquier Marie-Eve, Rohrbach Janine, Metzner Karin J, Fehr Jan, Ambrosioni Juan, Cavassini Matthias, Stöckle Marcel, Schmid Patrick, Bernasconi Enos, Keiser Olivia, Salazar-Vizcaya Luisa, Furrer Hansjakob, Rauch Andri, Rauch Andri, Aubert V, Battegay M, Bernasconi E, Böni J, Bucher H C, Burton-Jeangros C, Calmy A, Cavassini M, Dollenmaier G,
Project Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS)
Show all

Original article (peer-reviewed)

Journal Open forum infectious diseases
Volume (Issue) 2(1)
Page(s) 026 - 026
Title of proceedings Open forum infectious diseases
DOI 10.1093/ofid/ofv026

Open Access

URL http://doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofv026
Type of Open Access Publisher (Gold Open Access)

Abstract

Background.  The hepatitis C virus (HCV) epidemic is evolving rapidly in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We aimed to describe changes in treatment uptake and outcomes of incident HCV infections before and after 2006, the time-point at which major changes in HCV epidemic became apparent. Methods.  We included all adults with an incident HCV infection before June 2012 in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study, a prospective nationwide representative cohort of individuals infected with HIV. We assessed the following outcomes by time period: the proportion of patients starting an HCV therapy, the proportion of treated patients achieving a sustained virological response (SVR), and the proportion of patients with persistent HCV infection during follow-up. Results.  Of 193 patients with an HCV seroconversion, 106 were diagnosed before and 87 after January 2006. The proportion of men who have sex with men increased from 24% before to 85% after 2006 (P < .001). Hepatitis C virus treatment uptake increased from 33% before 2006 to 77% after 2006 (P < .001). Treatment was started during early infection in 22% of patients before and 91% after 2006 (P < .001). An SVR was achieved in 78% and 29% (P = .01) of patients treated during early and chronic HCV infection. The probability of having a detectable viral load 5 years after diagnosis was 0.67 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.58-0.77) in the group diagnosed before 2006 and 0.24 (95% CI, 0.16-0.35) in the other group (P < .001). Conclusions.  In recent years, increased uptake and earlier initiation of HCV therapy among patients with incident infections significantly reduced the proportion of patients with replicating HCV.
-