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Abstract Details
Comparing Treatment Response Between Older and Younger Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection on Direct-acting Antiviral Agents
R I Med J (2013). 2020 Jun 1;103(5):35-40.
Alyssa K Francis1, Francesca L Beaudoin2, Safiya S Naidjate3, Christine Berard-Collins4, Andrew R Zullo5
Author information
1School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, RI.
2Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine and Health Services, Policy, and Practice, The Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI.
3Clinical Pharmacist Specialist, Ambulatory Care, Lifespan Corporation, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI.
4Director, Department of Pharmacy, Rhode Island Hospital; Clinical Pharmacist Specialist, Ambulatory Care, Lifespan Corporation, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI.
5Assistant Professor of Health Services, Policy, and Practice and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Brown University; Research Fellow, Center of Innovation in Long-Term Services and Supports, Providence Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Clinical Pharmacist Specialist, Department of Pharmacy, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI.
Abstract
Objective: To compare sustained virologic response 12 weeks post-treatment completion (SVR12) and patient characteristics for older versus younger patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) receiving direct-acting antiviral (DAA) agent therapy.
Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients with chronic HCV who received DAA therapy, between 2015 and 2018, in the largest health system in Rhode Island (N=154). Patient characteristics, comorbid diagnoses, and SVR12 status were compared between older (aged ≥60 years) and younger (<60 years) adults using chi-squared tests.
Results: Overall, 94.1% (95% CI: 90.4-97.8) achieved SVR12; response rates were 91.8% (95% CI: 84.9-98.6) for older adults and 95.6% (95% CI: 91.5-99.8) for younger adults (p=0.51).
Conclusions: Our findings refute the historical notion that older adults were a "difficult-to-treat" subpopulation for whom clinicians should expect less treatment success. This is no longer the case with DAA therapy.