Real-life experience of hepatitis C treatment in a Spanish prison.
Rev Esp Quimioter
; 35(3): 273-278, 2022 Jun.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-35441836
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major public health problem that causes multiple comorbidities. People in prisons who inject intravenous drugs are at increased risk of HCV infection, and HCV infection is 15-fold more prevalent among prisoners compared with the community. The objective of this study was to analyse the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of residents of a Spanish prison with HCV infection who received antiviral treatment.METHODS:
An observational, descriptive and retrospective study was performed. All patients with HCV infection diagnosed or followed up in an Infectious Diseases attached to a penitentiary were included in this study.RESULTS:
Of 81 patients analysed, sixty-nine (83.1%) patients were male. The mean age was 50.1 (SD8.8) years, and 70% of the inmates had a history of injection drug use. Coinfection with HIV was detected in 30%. In up to 25% of the sample, there were data on chronic liver disease in the degree of liver cirrhosis. The diagnosis of HCV infection had been made more than 15 years earlier in 28% of those studied. Decompensations from liver disease, hepatocellular carcinoma, or hospital admissions were exceptional. Most of the inmates with HCV accepted treatment, and approximately 94% of the patients who completed treatment achieved a sustained virological response without interactions or complications of interest.CONCLUSIONS:
The availability of direct-acting antivirals and their exceptional side effects constitute an opportunity to reduce the burden of HCV infection in Spain, particularly in these high-risk populations.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Bases de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Hepatitis C
/
Hepatitis C Crónica
Tipo de estudio:
Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Rev Esp Quimioter
Asunto de la revista:
TERAPIA POR MEDICAMENTOS
Año:
2022
Tipo del documento:
Article