TY - JOUR
T1 - Public Health Clinic–Based Hepatitis C Treatment
AU - Rosecrans, Amanda M.
AU - Cheedalla, Aneesha
AU - Rives, Sarah T.
AU - Scotti, Lisa A.
AU - Harris, Robert E.
AU - Greenbaum, Adena H.
AU - Irvin, Risha R.
AU - Ntiri-Reid, Boatemaa A.
AU - Brown, Holly T.
AU - Alston, Karen E.
AU - Smith, Jaeson A.
AU - Page, Kathleen R.
AU - Falade-Nwulia, Oluwaseun O.
N1 - Funding Information:
The clinical work described here has been supported by grants from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC-RFA-PSA14-1413) and Gilead FOCUS. Neither of these funding sources contributed to the study design for this manuscript, review or interpretation of the data, preparation of the manuscript, or the decision to submit. Oluwaseun Falade-Nwulia is supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse/NIH K23DA041294. AR, AC, OFN, and KRP contributed to the conception of the study design, data analysis, and manuscript preparation. SR, LS, RH, AG, RI, BNR, HB, KA, and JS contributed to the design and implementation of the clinical work described here. All the authors reviewed the manuscript for accuracy of details and contributed to interpretation of the data as well as reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript. No financial disclosures were reported by the authors of this paper.
Funding Information:
The clinical work described here has been supported by grants from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC-RFA-PSA14-1413 ) and Gilead FOCUS. Neither of these funding sources contributed to the study design for this manuscript, review or interpretation of the data, preparation of the manuscript, or the decision to submit. Oluwaseun Falade-Nwulia is supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse/NIH K23DA041294 .
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 American Journal of Preventive Medicine
PY - 2020/9
Y1 - 2020/9
N2 - Introduction: The availability of safe, effective treatments for hepatitis C virus infection has led to a call for the elimination of hepatitis C, but barriers to care persist. Methods: In July 2015, the Baltimore City Health Department sexual health clinics began on-site hepatitis C virus treatment. Investigators conducted a retrospective evaluation of the first 2.5 years of this program. Data were extracted from the medical record through June 2019, and data analysis was completed in September 2019. Results: Between July 2015 and December 2017, a total of 560 patients infected with hepatitis C virus accessed care at the Baltimore City Health Department sexual health clinics. Of these patients, 423 (75.5%) were scheduled for hepatitis C virus evaluation at the clinics, 347 (62.0%) attended their evaluation appointment, 266 (47.5%) were prescribed treatment, 227 (40.5%) initiated treatment, and 199 (35.5%) achieved sustained virologic response. Older age was independently associated with hepatitis C virus evaluation appointment attendance (aged 40–59 years: AOR=3.64, 95% CI=1.88, 7.06; aged ≥60 years: AOR=5.61, 95% CI=2.58, 12.21) compared with those aged 20–39 years. Among those who attended hepatitis C virus evaluation appointments, advanced liver disease was independently and positively associated with treatment initiation (AOR=11.89, 95% CI=6.35, 22.25). Conversely, illicit substance use in the past 12 months was negatively associated with hepatitis C virus treatment initiation (AOR=0.49, 95% CI=0.25, 0.96). Conclusions: The integration of hepatitis C virus testing and on-site treatment in public sexual health clinics is an innovative approach to improve access to hepatitis C virus treatment for medically underserved populations.
AB - Introduction: The availability of safe, effective treatments for hepatitis C virus infection has led to a call for the elimination of hepatitis C, but barriers to care persist. Methods: In July 2015, the Baltimore City Health Department sexual health clinics began on-site hepatitis C virus treatment. Investigators conducted a retrospective evaluation of the first 2.5 years of this program. Data were extracted from the medical record through June 2019, and data analysis was completed in September 2019. Results: Between July 2015 and December 2017, a total of 560 patients infected with hepatitis C virus accessed care at the Baltimore City Health Department sexual health clinics. Of these patients, 423 (75.5%) were scheduled for hepatitis C virus evaluation at the clinics, 347 (62.0%) attended their evaluation appointment, 266 (47.5%) were prescribed treatment, 227 (40.5%) initiated treatment, and 199 (35.5%) achieved sustained virologic response. Older age was independently associated with hepatitis C virus evaluation appointment attendance (aged 40–59 years: AOR=3.64, 95% CI=1.88, 7.06; aged ≥60 years: AOR=5.61, 95% CI=2.58, 12.21) compared with those aged 20–39 years. Among those who attended hepatitis C virus evaluation appointments, advanced liver disease was independently and positively associated with treatment initiation (AOR=11.89, 95% CI=6.35, 22.25). Conversely, illicit substance use in the past 12 months was negatively associated with hepatitis C virus treatment initiation (AOR=0.49, 95% CI=0.25, 0.96). Conclusions: The integration of hepatitis C virus testing and on-site treatment in public sexual health clinics is an innovative approach to improve access to hepatitis C virus treatment for medically underserved populations.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.amepre.2020.03.006
DO - 10.1016/j.amepre.2020.03.006
M3 - Article
C2 - 32430222
AN - SCOPUS:85085106374
VL - 59
SP - 420
EP - 427
JO - American Journal of Preventive Medicine
JF - American Journal of Preventive Medicine
SN - 0749-3797
IS - 3
ER -