Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Liver Enzyme Elevation After Hepatitis C Virologic Cure.

A subset of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection demonstrate liver enzyme elevation (LEE) after achieving sustained virologic response (SVR). Risk factors for LEE are not well characterised. We conducted a single-centre retrospective cohort study of adults with HCV infection in the Duke University Health System who received direct-acting antiviral therapy and achieved SVR. We performed multivariable logistic regression to assess the relationship between potential risk factors and LEE. We used generalised linear mixed-effects models to explore longitudinal relationships between HIV and LEE. Among 1356 patients, 556 (41.0%) had LEE after achieving SVR. Higher pretreatment alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.08 per 10 IU/L increase; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-1.11) and pretreatment cirrhosis (aOR 2.26, 95% CI 1.60-3.21) were associated with higher odds of LEE; male sex was associated with lower odds of LEE (aOR 0.28, 95% CI 0.21-0.38). There was insufficient evidence of an association between HIV and LEE (aOR 0.83, 95% CI 0.47-1.44). Pretreatment ALT, cirrhosis and female sex predicted LEE in this cohort of patients with HCV infection who achieved SVR. These findings can help to identify patients at greatest risk of post-SVR liver injury.

High prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection among incarcerated persons: Results from the Louisiana Hepatitis C Elimination Plan's opt-out testing program in prisons.

In the United States, modelling studies suggest a high prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in incarcerated populations. However, limited HCV testing has been conducted in prisons. Through the Louisiana Hepatitis C Elimination Plan, persons incarcerated in the eight state prisons were offered HCV testing from 20 September 2019 to 14 July 2022, and facility entry/exit HCV testing was introduced. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate associations with HCV antibody (anti-HCV) positivity and viremia. Of 17,231 persons in the eight state prisons screened for anti-HCV, 95.1% were male, 66.7% were 30-57 years old, 3% were living with HIV, 68.2% were Black and 2904 (16.9%) were anti-HCV positive. HCV RNA was detected in 69.3% of anti-HCV positive individuals tested. In the multivariable model, anti-HCV positivity was associated with older age including those 30-57 (odds ratio [OR] 3.53, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.96-4.20) and those ≥58 (OR 10.43, 95% CI 8.66-12.55) as compared to those ≤29 years of age, living with HIV (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.36-2.07), hepatitis B (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.25-2.69) and syphilis (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.23-1.86). HCV viremia was associated with male sex (OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.36-2.63) and Black race (OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.20-1.68). HCV prevalence was high in the state prisons in Louisiana compared to community estimates. To the extent that Louisiana is representative, to eliminate HCV in the United States, it will be important for incarcerated persons to have access to HCV testing and treatment.

Tools Needed to Support Same-day Diagnosis and Treatment of Current Hepatitis C Infection.

Current HCV prevention efforts and treatment rates must improve for the United States (U.S.) to achieve WHO global elimination targets by 2030[1]. The current multi-day diagnosis and treatment paradigm for hepatitis C (HCV) infection leads to significant loss in the cascade of care, resulting in far fewer patients receiving treatment with direct acting antiviral agents (DAAs) than those diagnosed with HCV infection [2,3]. To achieve HCV elimination, a paradigm shift in access to HCV treatment is needed from current multi-day testing and treatment algorithms to same day diagnosis and treatment. This shift will require new tools, such as FDA-approved, CLIA-waived point-of-care (POC) antigen or nucleic acid tests (NAT) for HCV and HBV and NAT for HIV that do not require venous blood. Such a shift will also require better utilization of existing resources, expanding access to HCV treatment through availability of onsite treatment, removal of payer barriers to approval, adoption of minimal monitoring approaches during treatment, expanded access to available POC tests, and available specialist referral networks for patients who fail initial therapy, have advanced liver fibrosis, or have co-incident HIV or HBV infection. A same-day diagnosis and treatment paradigm will substantially contribute to HCV elimination by improving treatment rates for those diagnosed with HCV infection and expanding access to treatment in settings where patients have brief encounters with healthcare.

Progress Towards Elimination of Hepatitis C Infection Among People Who Inject Drugs in Australia: The ETHOS Engage Study.

BACKGROUND: Evaluating progress towards hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination is critical. This study estimated prevalence of current HCV infection and HCV treatment uptake among people who inject drugs (PWID) in Australia. METHODS: The Enhancing Treatment of Hepatitis C in Opioid Substitution Settings Engage is an observational study of PWID attending drug treatment clinics and needle and syringe programs (NSPs). Participants completed a questionnaire including self-reported treatment history and underwent point-of-care HCV RNA testing (Xpert HCV Viral Load Fingerstick; Cepheid). RESULTS: Between May 2018 and September 2019, 1443 participants were enrolled (64% injected drugs in the last month, 74% receiving opioid agonist therapy [OAT]). HCV infection status was uninfected (28%), spontaneous clearance (16%), treatment-induced clearance (32%), and current infection (24%). Current HCV was more likely among people who were homeless (adjusted odds ratio, 1.47; 95% confidence interval, 1.00-2.16), incarcerated in the previous year (2.04; 1.38-3.02), and those injecting drugs daily or more (2.26; 1.43-2.42). Among those with previous chronic or current HCV, 66% (n = 520/788) reported HCV treatment. In adjusted analysis, HCV treatment was lower among females (.68; .48-.95), participants who were homeless (.59; .38-.96), and those injecting daily or more (.51; .31-.89). People aged ≥45 years (1.46; 1.06-2.01) and people receiving OAT (2.62; 1.52-4.51) were more likely to report HCV treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Unrestricted direct-acting antiviral therapy access in Australia has yielded high treatment uptake among PWID attending drug treatment and NSPs, with a marked decline in HCV prevalence. To achieve elimination, PWID with greater marginalization may require additional support and tailored strategies to enhance treatment.

Screening Emergency Admissions at Risk of Chronic Hepatitis C (SEARCH) to diagnose or 're-diagnose' infections is effective in Australia.

The World Health Organization has set ambitious viral hepatitis elimination targets; however, difficulties in identifying and engaging patients remain. The emergency visit is an opportunity for enhanced linkage to care (LTC). We assessed the effectiveness of an automated Emergency Department (ED) screening service in identifying patients with hepatitis C (HCV) and achieving LTC. A retrospective evaluation was undertaken, analysing the first 5000 patients screened through an automatic Australian service termed 'Screening Emergency Admissions at Risk of Chronic Hepatitis' (SEARCH). Screening was performed for those recommended in the Australian national testing policy, specifically overseas born (OB) and Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders (ATSI). Healthcare worker education, patient information materials and opt-out informed consent were used to test sera already collected for biochemistry assays. 5000 of 5801 (86.2%) consecutive eligible patients were screened (OB: 4778, ATSI: 222) from 14 093 ED presentations. HCV antibody was positive in 181 patients (3.6%); 51 (1.0%) were HCV RNA positive. Of 51 HCV RNA-positive patients, 12 were new diagnoses, 32 were 're-diagnoses' (aware but lost to follow-up [LTFU]), and 7 were previously known but treatment contraindicated. LTC was successful in 38 viraemic patients (7 deceased, 4 LTFU, 1 treatment ineligible and 1 declined). Of RNA-negative patients, 75 were previously treated and 49 had presumed spontaneous clearance. Opt-out consent was acceptable to all patients and staff involved. ED screening can lead to additional diagnosing and 're-diagnosing' of HCV, with high rates of LTC. Opt-out consent and automation removed major obstacles to testing.

Utilizing public health data to geotarget hepatitis C virus elimination approaches in urban and rural Michigan.

Using Michigan public health data, we assessed geographical access to specialist providers for hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment in urban and rural areas in Michigan and explored correlates of HCV in these areas to help inform HCV elimination planning and resource allocations. We found higher HCV incidence in urban areas, lower treatment specialist access in rural areas, but few correlates of HCV across adult populations in both areas. State and local HCV elimination planning should include population-based screening among all adults and address geographical barriers to care.

Challenges of transferring rural adults with chronic HCV infection for further HCV RNA confirmation and free DAAs treatment: a success story of the interdisciplinary collaboration approach.

BACKGROUND: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV), which is a concern in many countries, is the leading cause of liver cancer around the world. Since Taiwan launched its national health insurance system in 1995, it has managed to extend health coverage to 99% of the Taiwanese population, providing free but limited antiviral treatment each year since 2017. However, many people in rural areas are unaware that they have chronic HCV; nor do they realize that new drugs with high cure rates could drastically reduce their health burden. The aim of this study is to explore the implementation facilitators of and barriers to inviting potentially infected patients in rural areas to be transferred for HCV ribonucleic acid (RNA) confirmation and new drug treatment. METHODS: A descriptive and prospective study design with an interdisciplinary collaboration approach was implemented. After five elements of referral were developed, telephone counseling was conducted between August 2018 and May 2019 in Yunlin, Taiwan. The elements of referral developed by the research team were: (1) forming and coordinating physicians' schedules, (2) recruiting and training volunteers, (3) training the nursing staff, (4) raising funds or resources, and (5) connecting with village leaders. Thereafter, we collaborated with two district health centers, a private local hospital, and health clinics. Based on the medical records provided by these agencies, community adults that were HCV antibody (anti-HCV) positive were invited to join the program. RESULTS: Of the 1795 adults who were serum anti-HCV positive, 1149 (64%) accepted transfer to a qualified hospital; of these, 623 (54.2%) had an HCV infection. 552 (88.6%) of those infected started receiving direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) treatment. The top four barriers to accepting transfer were: (1) they perceived themselves to be healthy (n = 98, 32.3%); (2) mistrust of treatment/healthcare (n = 60, 20.2%); (3) limited transportation to the hospital (n = 52, 17.5%); and (4) work conflict (n = 30, 10.1%). CONCLUSION: An interdisciplinary collaboration approach significantly contributed to the invitation of CHC patients, as well as their acceptance of HCV RNA confirmation and free DAAs treatment. Using anti-HCV data from previous medical records for case-finding and collaborating with a hospital and health clinics proved to be an efficient strategy.

Hepatitis-C Infection: Are we really committed to eliminate? Could it become the second Polio for Pakistan?

Pakistan's hepatitis C virus (HCV) burden is one of the highest in the world. Around eight million people live with HCV in Pakistan according to a National Hepatitis Survey. Most HCV-infected people are unaware of their infection status culminating in delayed diagnosis and treatment, progressing to end stage liver disease, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), thereby raising the disease load for a developing country with limited resources. Blood transfusions and injections with reused syringes lead to increased HCV rates in Pakistan. According to a survey viral infections like hepatitis C, hepatitis B and HIV were not screened in more than half of the blood transfusions done in Pakistan. Hepatitis C elimination requires financial support from the local government and private organizations, commitment from civil societies across the world and a dedicated political will. Without defining effective planning and strategy it is our fear that it could become the second Polio for Pakistan.

Bridging Hepatitis C Care Gaps: A Modeling Approach for Achieving the WHO's Targets in Ontario, Canada.

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization (WHO) has set hepatitis C (HCV) elimination targets for 2030. Understanding existing gaps in the "HCV care-cascade" is essential for meeting these targets. We aimed to identify the level of service scale-up needed along the "HCV care-cascade" to achieve the WHO's HCV elimination targets in Ontario, Canada. METHODS: By employing a decision analytic model, we projected the quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and healthcare costs for individuals with HCV in Ontario. We increased RNA testing and treatment rates to 98%, followed by increasing antibody testing uptake until we achieved the WHO's mortality target (i.e., a 65% reduction in liver-related mortality by 2030 vs. 2015). RESULTS: Without scaling up by 2030, the expected QALYs and costs per person were 9.156 and CAD 48,996, respectively. Improved RNA testing and treatment rates reduced liver-related deaths to 3.3/100,000, a 57% reduction from 2015. Further doubling the antibody testing rates can achieve the WHO's mortality target in 2035, but not in 2030. Compared to the status quo, such program would be cost-effective considering a 50,000 CAD/QALY gained threshold if annual implementation costs stayed under 2.3 M CAD/100,000 people. CONCLUSIONS: Doubling the antibody testing rates, along with increased RNA testing and treatment rates, showed promise in meeting the WHO's goals by 2035.

Cost effectiveness of hepatitis C direct acting agents.

INTRODUCTION: Introduction of direct acting antivirals (DAA) has transformed treatment of chronic hepatitis C (HCV) and made the elimination of HCV an achievable goal set forward by World Health Organization by 2030. Multiple barriers need to be overcome for successful eradication of HCV. Availability of pan-genotypic HCV regimens has decreased the need for genotype testing but maintained high efficacy associated with DAAs. AREAS COVERED: In this review, we will assess the cost-effectiveness of DAA treatment in patients with chronic HCV disease, with emphasis on general, cirrhosis, and vulnerable populations. EXPERT OPINION: Multiple barriers exist limiting eradication of HCV, including cost to treatment, access, simplified testing, and implementing policy to foster treatment for all groups of HCV patients. Clinically, DAAs have drastically changed the landscape of HCV, but focused targeting of vulnerable groups is needed. Public policy will continue to play a strong role in eliminating HCV. While we will focus on the cost-effectiveness of DAA, several other factors regarding HCV require on going attention, such as increasing public awareness and decreasing social stigma associated with HCV, offering universal screening followed by linkage to treatment and improving preventive interventions to decrease spread of HCV.

Planning, implementing, and evaluating Hepatitis C virus elimination via collaborative community-based care cascade: age-period-cohort model for estimating demand from antecedent anti-HCV survey.

BACKGROUND: Estimating the demand for HCV care cascade plays an important role in planning, monitoring, and assessing the performance of introducing a new community-based hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination program but such an analytic and systematic approach has been barley addressed. METHODS: A new collaborative care program for HCV elimination in the Changhua Community of Taiwan has been offered to a total of 895,353 residents since 2018. To grasp the variation of demand for HCV care cascade across demographic and geographic features in the planning stage, we applied the age-period-cohort spatial model to the antecedent anti-HCV survey enrolling 123,617 participants aged 30 years or older between 2005 and 2018. Based on this precise denominator, we then employed a "before-and-after" study design to routinely evaluate whether the WHO criteria of 90% RNA positive diagnosis and 80% successful treatments could be reached. RESULTS: The overall demand for HCV care cascade was 4.28% (HCV infection) of the underlying population but a declining trend was noted. The early cohort had a higher demand, whereas the demand of the young cohort decreased with each passing year. The demand also differed by township. The demand, allowing for these variations, for antiviral treatment was 22,362, yielding the WHO target of 12,880 for achieving HCV elimination. With 11,844 successful treatments, the effectiveness of elimination has already reached 92% (11,844/12,880) by the end of 2022. CONCLUSIONS: The demand for HCV care cascade allows health care decision-makers to timely and properly assess the performance of a novel community-based collaborative care program in achieving HCV elimination.

Barriers and advocacy needs for hepatitis C services in prisons: Informing the prisons hepatitis C advocacy toolkit.

BACKGROUND: Carceral settings are a key focus of the 2030 WHO global hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination goals. Despite this, access to HCV testing and treatment services in prisons remains low globally, limiting opportunities to achieve these goals. Advocacy efforts are needed to address service inequities and mobilise support for enhanced HCV programs in prisons globally. INHSU Prisons, a special interest group of the International Network on Health and Hepatitis in Substance Users (INHSU) is developing a Prisons HCV Advocacy Toolkit to address this need. Here we present findings of a mixed study to inform the development of the Toolkit. METHODS: The aim of this study was to inform the development of the Toolkit, including understanding barriers for scaling up prison-based HCV services globally and advocacy needs to address these. An online survey (n = 181) and in-depth interviews (n = 25) were conducted with key stakeholders from countries of different economic status globally. Quantitative data were statistically analysed using R Studio and qualitative data were analysed thematically. The data sets were merged using a convergent design. RESULTS: Key barriers for enhanced prison-based HCV services included lack of political will and action, lack of prison-based healthcare resources, and poor awareness about HCV and the importance of prison-based HCV services. These findings underscore how advocacy efforts are needed to motivate policymakers to prioritise HCV healthcare in prisons and ensure funds are available for services (including diagnostic tools and treatment, healthcare teams to implement services, and systems to measure their success). Advocacy resources to raise the awareness of policy makers, people working in the prison sector, and incarcerated populations were also identified as key to increasing HCV service uptake. CONCLUSION: The Toolkit has the potential to support advocacy efforts for reaching HCV elimination targets. By understanding the advocacy needs of potential Toolkit end-users, the findings can inform its development and increase its accessibility, acceptability, and uptake for a globally diverse audience.

Co-designing the INHSU Prisons Hepatitis C Advocacy Toolkit using the Advocacy Strategy Framework.

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization (WHO) has established targets to eliminate the hepatitis C virus (HCV) by 2030. Prisons are a key focus of elimination efforts, however, access to HCV services in prisons remains low globally. With the aim of increasing advocacy efforts to help address this gap, the International Network on Health and Hepatitis in Substance Users (INHSU) Prisons, developed a Prisons Hepatitis C Advocacy Toolkit. METHODS: Toolkit development involved a co-design process to ensure advocacy resources met end-user needs. A scoping study was conducted, involving a web-based survey and in-depth interviews, to understand advocacy resource needs of key stakeholders from countries of different socio-economic strata. Data were analysed, and suggested advocacy resources were mapped onto the Advocacy Strategy Framework with the audiences resources are targetting and the changes they aim to influence. Advocacy resources were co-developed and validated by interview participants before incorporation into the web-based platform. RESULTS: Survey responses (n = 181) and interview data (n = 25) highlighted several barriers to enhancing HCV services in prisons globally, and an understanding that advocacy efforts are needed to bring about this change. Advocacy resources were suggested for influencing three key audiences: policymakers/funders, implementers, and community. Thereafter, a suite of 20 de novo tools were co-developed with key stakeholders including case studies of evidence-based models of HCV care, policy briefs, HCV infographics, and fact sheets about how to leverage funding and build advocacy campaigns. Findings underscore the importance of capitalising on the knowledge and expertise of potential end-users, to ensure Toolkit resources are context-specific and match their needs. CONCLUSION: The Toolkit holds promise for progressing the WHO elimination goals by increasing advocacy efforts for enhanced prison HCV services globally. The co-design of Toolkit resources with potential end-users has increased its potential accessibility, acceptability, and inclusivity for a globally diverse audience.

Has the HCV cascade of care changed among people who inject drugs in England since the introduction of direct-acting antivirals?

BACKGROUND: In England, over 80 % of those with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection have injected drugs. We quantified the HCV cascade of care (CoC) among people who inject drugs (PWID) in England and determined whether this improved after direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) were introduced. METHODS: We analysed data from nine rounds of national annual cross-sectional surveys of PWID recruited from drug services (2011-2019; N = 12,320). Study rounds were grouped as: 'Pre-DAAs' (2011-2014), 'Prioritised DAAs' (2015-2016) and 'Unrestricted DAAs' (2017-2019). Participants were anonymously tested for HCV antibodies and RNA and completed a short survey. We assessed the proportion of PWID recently (current/previous year) tested for HCV. For participants ever HCV treatment eligible (past chronic infection with history of treatment or current chronic infection), we assessed the CoC as: HCV testing (ever), received a positive test result, seen a specialist nurse/doctor, and ever treated. We used logistic regression to determine if individuals progressed through the CoC differently depending on time-period, whether time-period was associated with recent testing (all participants) and lifetime HCV treatment (ever eligible participants), and predictors of HCV testing and treatment in the Unrestricted DAAs period. RESULTS: The proportion of ever HCV treatment eligible PWID reporting lifetime HCV treatment increased from 12.5 % in the Pre-DAAs period to 25.6 % in the Unrestricted DAAs period (aOR:2.40, 95 %CI:1.95-2.96). There were also increases in seeing a specialist nurse/doctor. The largest loss in the CoC was at treatment for all time periods. During the Unrestricted DAAs period, recent (past year) homelessness (vs never, aOR:0.66, 95 %CI:0.45-0.97), duration of injecting (≤3 years vs >3 years; aOR:0.26, 95 %CI:0.12-0.60), never (vs current, aOR:0.31, 95 %CI:0.13-0.75) or previously being prescribed OAT (vs current, aOR:0.67, 95 %CI:0.47-0.95), and never using a NSP (vs past year, aOR:0.27, 95 %CI:0.08-0.89) were negatively associated with lifetime HCV treatment. The proportion of PWID reporting recent HCV testing was higher during Unrestricted DAAs (56 %) compared to Pre-DAAs (48 %; aOR:1.28, 95 %CI:1.06-1.54). CONCLUSION: COC stages from seeing a specialist onwards improved after DAAs became widely available. Further improvements in HCV testing are needed to eliminate HCV in England.

Low Hepatitis C Virus Prevalence among Men Who Have Sex with Men Attending Public Health Services in The Netherlands.

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence is high among men who have sex with men (MSM) with HIV in the Netherlands. Large reductions in HCV incidence among MSM with HIV, however, have occurred since treatment with direct-acting antivirals. Over the years, a broader understanding of the HCV epidemic has shown that HCV infections are not solely restricted to MSM with HIV, but they also occur among HIV-negative MSM. Currently, HCV testing among HIV-negative MSM is only provided for PrEP users and is not part of routine sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening among HIV-negative MSM who are not using PrEP. In this study, we screened 1885 HIV-negative MSM who did not participate in a PrEP program, with over 1966 STI screening visits at four different public health clinic sites. Among the 1885 MSM, only one person had a new HCV infection, resulting in a 0.05% (95% confidence interval 0.0-0.3) incidence. Based on our findings, we can conclude that systematic HCV testing at STI clinics may not yield significant benefits for this particular population.

Sofosbuvir plus velpatasvir for 8 weeks in patients with acute hepatitis C: The HepNet acute HCV-V study.

Background & Aims: EASL guidelines recommend 8 weeks of treatment with sofosbuvir plus velpatasvir (SOF/VEL) for the treatment of acute or recently acquired HCV infection, but only 6- and 12-week data are available. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a shortened 8-week SOF/VEL treatment for acute HCV monoinfection. Methods: In this investigator-initiated, prospective, multicentre, single-arm study, we recruited 20 adult patients with acute HCV monoinfection from nine centers in Germany. Patients received SOF/VEL (400/100 mg) as a fixed-dose combination tablet once daily for 8 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoint was the proportion of patients with sustained virological response 12 weeks after the end of treatment (SVR12). Results: The median HCV RNA viral load at baseline was 104,307 IU/ml; the distribution of HCV genotypes was as follows: GT1a/1b/2/3/4: n = 12/1/1/3/3. Thirteen (65%) of the 20 patients were taking medication for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis. SVR12 was achieved in all patients who complied with the study protocol (n = 18/18 [100%], per protocol analysis), but the primary endpoint was not met in the intention-to-treat analysis (n = 18/20 [90%]) because two patients were lost to follow-up. One serious adverse event (unrelated to study drug) occurred during 12 weeks of post-treatment follow-up. Conclusions: The 8-week treatment with SOF/VEL was well tolerated and highly effective in all adherent patients with acute HCV monoinfection. Early treatment of hepatitis C might effectively prevent the spread of HCV in high-risk groups. Clinical Trial Number: NCT03818308. Impact and implications: The HepNet acute HCV-V study (NCT03818308), an investigator-initiated, single-arm, multicenter pilot study, demonstrates the efficacy and safety of 8 weeks of daily treatment with the fixed-dose combination sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (400/100 mg) in patients with acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. All patients who completed therapy and were followed-up achieved sustained virologic response. Thus, early treatment with SOF/VEL which might effectively prevent the spread of HCV in high-risk groups can be recommended for patients with acute HCV monoinfection.

Client resistance to hepatitis C treatment initiation in opioid agonist treatment clinics in Sydney, Australia: A qualitative study.

INTRODUCTION: Opioid agonist treatment (OAT) clinics play a key role in achieving elimination of hepatitis C virus (HCV) globally. Previous research has identified barriers to HCV treatment uptake in OAT clinics; however, most studies were conducted prior to the introduction of direct-acting antiviral treatments (DAA). It remains unclear whether progress has been made in responding to barriers and what challenges persist in this setting. METHODS: Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with staff (n = 20) and clients (n = 15) in two OAT clinics in Sydney, Australia. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using constant comparative methods. RESULTS: Despite progress in integrating hepatitis C care in the clinics, competing priorities, concerns about side-effects, distrust of staff, health problems and difficulties accessing testing and medication persisted as key reasons why clients had not initiated treatment. Most clients preferred to postpone treatment and focus on other priorities and some highlighted lack of medical evidence for urgent treatment. Pressure on services to achieve elimination targets within set time frames was a primary driver of repeated offers of treatment by staff and the framing of clients' preferences for postponing treatment, as a barrier. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Current timelines for HCV elimination targets may have galvanised services into action but may have also created tensions at the coalface due to disparities between staff and clients' priorities. The involvement of peer workers and mechanisms to ensure continued follow up with clients about DAA treatments is required. Public health timelines for HCV elimination need to be informed by affected communities' priorities.

The Hepatitis C Care Cascade During the Direct-Acting Antiviral Era in a United States Commercially Insured Population.

Background: Periodic surveillance of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) care cascade is important for tracking progress toward HCV elimination goals, identifying gaps in care, and prioritizing resource allocation. In the pre-direct-acting antiviral (DAA) era, it was estimated that 50% of HCV-infected individuals were diagnosed and that 16% had been prescribed interferon-based therapy. Since then, few studies utilizing nationally representative data from the DAA era have been conducted in the United States. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study to describe the HCV care cascade in the United States using the Optum de-identified Clinformatics® Data Mart Database to identify a nationally representative sample of commercially insured beneficiaries between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2019. We estimated the number of HCV-viremic individuals in Optum based on national HCV prevalence estimates and determined the proportion who had: (1) recorded diagnosis of HCV infection, (2) recorded HCV diagnosis and underwent HCV RNA testing, (3) DAA treatment dispensed, and (4) assessment for cure. Results: Among 120,311 individuals estimated to have HCV viremia in Optum during the study period, 109,233 (90.8%; 95% CI, 90.6%-91.0%) had a recorded diagnosis of HCV infection, 75,549 (62.8%; 95% CI, 62.5%-63.1%) had a recorded diagnosis of HCV infection and underwent HCV RNA testing, 41,102 (34.2%; 95% CI, 33.9%-34.4%) were dispensed DAA treatment, and 25,760 (21.4%; 95% CI, 21.2%-21.6%) were assessed for cure. Conclusions: Gaps remain between the delivery of HCV-related care and national treatment goals among commercially insured adults. Efforts are needed to increase HCV treatment among people diagnosed with chronic HCV infection to achieve national elimination goals.