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Abstract Details
Impact of COVID-19 on Prescribing Trends of Direct-Acting Antivirals for the Treatment of Hepatitis C in Ontario, Canada
Am J Gastroenterol. 2021 Aug 1;116(8):1738-1740.doi: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000001287.
Natalia Konstantelos12, Ahmad Shakeri1, Daniel McCormack3, Jordan J Feld45, Tara Gomes236, Mina Tadrous123
Author information
1Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
2Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
3ICES, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
4Toronto Centre for Liver Disease, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
5Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
6Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Abstract
Introduction: Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are curative treatments for hepatitis C. However, initiation of these treatments requires adequate healthcare access. Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) resulted in restrictions to healthcare services in March 2020. We examined the impact of COVID-19 on the number of individuals dispensed DAAs.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional study examining the number of individuals dispensed DAAs in Ontario, Canada, from 2018 to 2020. Time-series models determined the impact of healthcare restrictions on DAA dispensations.
Results: Healthcare restrictions resulted in a 49.3% decrease in DAA dispensations (P = 0.026).
Discussion: COVID-19-related healthcare restrictions significantly affected access to DAAs. Studies exploring the long-term effects on reduced treatment are needed.