National Brazilian survey on the outcomes of hepatitis c retreatment in patients non-responders to direct antiviral agents.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Treatment of hepatitis C with direct antiviral agents (DAA) is associated with almost 95% of sustained virological response. However, some patients need retreatment. In Brazil, it should be done according to the Ministry of Health guidelines, frequently updated to include newly available drugs. This study aimed to conduct a national survey about the characteristics and outcomes of retreatment of hepatitis C in previously non-responders to DAAs. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Institutions from all over the country were invited to participate in a national registry for retreatment, including information about clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the patients, type and outcomes of retreatment regimens. Only patients previously treated with interferon-free regimens were included. RESULTS: As previous treatments the distribution was: SOF/DCV (56%), SOF/SIM (22%), 3D (11%), SOF/LED (6%) and SOF/RBV (5%). For retreatment the most frequently used drugs were SOF/GP (46%), SOF/DCV (23%) and SOF/VEL (11%). From 159 patients retreated, 132/159 (83%) had complete information in the registry and among them only seven patients were non-responders (SVR of 94.6%). All retreatments were well tolerated, without any serious adverse events or interruptions. CONCLUSION: The retreatment of patients previously non-responders to DAAs was associated with high rate of SVR in this sample of Brazilian patients. This finding allows us to conclude that the retreatment options available in the public health system in Brazil are effective and safe and are an important component of the strategy of elimination of hepatitis C in our country.

National Brazilian survey on the outcomes of hepatitis c retreatment in patients non-responders to direct antiviral agents

ABSTRACT Background and aims: Treatment of hepatitis C with direct antiviral agents (DAA) is associated with almost 95% of sustained virological response. However, some patients need retreatment. In Brazil, it should be done according to the Ministry of Health guidelines, frequently updated to include newly available drugs. This study aimed to conduct a national survey about the characteristics and outcomes of retreatment of hepatitis C in previously non-responders to DAAs. Patients and methods: Institutions from all over the country were invited to participate in a national registry for retreatment, including information about clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the patients, type and outcomes of retreatment regimens. Only patients previously treated with interferon-free regimens were included. Results: As previous treatments the distribution was: SOF/DCV (56%), SOF/SIM (22%), 3D (11%), SOF/LED (6%) and SOF/RBV (5%). For retreatment the most frequently used drugs were SOF/GP (46%), SOF/DCV (23%) and SOF/VEL (11%). From 159 patients retreated, 132/159 (83%) had complete information in the registry and among them only seven patients were non-responders (SVR of 94.6%). All retreatments were well tolerated, without any serious adverse events or interruptions. Conclusion: The retreatment of patients previously non-responders to DAAs was associated with high rate of SVR in this sample of Brazilian patients. This finding allows us to conclude that the retreatment options available in the public health system in Brazil are effective and safe and are an important component of the strategy of elimination of hepatitis C in our country.

INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE CARE IN BRAZIL: HOW IT IS PERFORMED, OBSTACLES AND DEMANDS FROM THE PHYSICIANS' PERSPECTIVE.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic inflammatory affections of recurrent nature whose incidence and prevalence rates have increased, including in Brazil. In long term, they are responsible for structural damage that impacts quality of life, morbidity and mortality of patients. OBJECTIVE: To describe the profile of physicians who treat IBD patients as well as the characteristics of IBD care, unmet demands and difficulties. METHODS: A questionnaire containing 17 items was prepared and sent to 286 physicians from 101 Brazilian cities across 21 states and the Federal District, selected from the register of the State Commission of the "Study Group of Inflammatory Bowel Disease of Brazil" (GEDIIB). RESULTS: The majority of the physicians who answered the questionnaire were gastroenterologists and colorectal surgeons. More than 60% had up to 20 years of experience in the specialty and 53.14% worked at three or more locations. Difficulties in accessing or releasing medicines were evident in this questionnaire, as was referrals to allied healthy professionals working in IBD-related fields. More than 75% of physicians reported difficulties in performing double-balloon enteroscopy and capsule endoscopy, and 67.8% reported difficulties in measuring calprotectin. With regard to the number of patients seen by each physician, it was shown that patients do not concentrate under the responsibility of few doctors. Infliximab and adalimumab were the most commonly used biological medicines and there was a higher prescription of 5-ASA derivatives for ulcerative colitis than for Crohn's disease. Steroids were prescribed to a smaller proportion of patients in both diseases. The topics "biological therapy failure" and "new drugs" were reported as those with higher priority for discussion in medical congresses. In relation to possible differences among the country's regions, physicians from the North region reported greater difficulty in accessing complementary exams while those from the Northeast region indicated greater difficulty in accessing or releasing medicines. CONCLUSION: The data obtained through this study demonstrate the profile of specialized medical care in IBD and are a useful tool for the implementation of government policies and for the Brazilian society as a whole.

Atendimento da doença inflamatória intestinal no Brasil: como é feito, os entraves e as demandas sob a ótica dos médicos / Inflammatory bowel disease care in brazil: how it is performed, obstacles and demands from the physicians' perspective

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic inflammatory affections of recurrent nature whose incidence and prevalence rates have increased, including in Brazil. In long term, they are responsible for structural damage that impacts quality of life, morbidity and mortality of patients. OBJECTIVE: To describe the profile of physicians who treat IBD patients as well as the characteristics of IBD care, unmet demands and difficulties. METHODS: A questionnaire containing 17 items was prepared and sent to 286 physicians from 101 Brazilian cities across 21 states and the Federal District, selected from the register of the State Commission of the "Study Group of Inflammatory Bowel Disease of Brazil" (GEDIIB). RESULTS: The majority of the physicians who answered the questionnaire were gastroenterologists and colorectal surgeons. More than 60% had up to 20 years of experience in the specialty and 53.14% worked at three or more locations. Difficulties in accessing or releasing medicines were evident in this questionnaire, as was referrals to allied healthy professionals working in IBD-related fields. More than 75% of physicians reported difficulties in performing double-balloon enteroscopy and capsule endoscopy, and 67.8% reported difficulties in measuring calprotectin. With regard to the number of patients seen by each physician, it was shown that patients do not concentrate under the responsibility of few doctors. Infliximab and adalimumab were the most commonly used biological medicines and there was a higher prescription of 5-ASA derivatives for ulcerative colitis than for Crohn's disease. Steroids were prescribed to a smaller proportion of patients in both diseases. The topics "biological therapy failure" and "new drugs" were reported as those with higher priority for discussion in medical congresses. In relation to possible differences among the country's regions, physicians from the North region reported greater difficulty in accessing complementary exams while those from the Northeast region indicated greater difficulty in accessing or releasing medicines. CONCLUSION: The data obtained through this study demonstrate the profile of specialized medical care in IBD and are a useful tool for the implementation of government policies and for the Brazilian society as a whole.

RESUMO CONTEXTO: As doenças inflamatórias intestinais (DII) são afecções inflamatórias crônicas de caráter recorrente, cujas taxas de incidência e prevalência têm aumentado, inclusive no Brasil. A longo prazo, são responsáveis por danos estruturais que impactam na qualidade de vida, morbidade e mortalidade dos pacientes. OBJETIVO: Avaliar o perfil dos médicos que atendem pacientes com DII, assim como as características deste atendimento, demandas não atendidas e dificuldades. MÉTODOS: Um questionário contendo 17 variáveis foi elaborado e enviado para médicos, selecionados a partir do cadastro da Comissão das Estaduais do Grupo de Estudos da Doença Inflamatória Intestinal do Brasil (GEDIIB), totalizando 286 médicos de 101 cidades brasileiras distribuídas por 21 estados e Distrito Federal. RESULTADOS: A maioria dos médicos que respondeu o questionário foram Gastroenterologistas e Coloproctologistas. Mais de 60% tinham até 20 anos de atuação na especialidade e 53,14% trabalhavam em três locais ou mais. A dificuldade no acesso ou liberação de medicamentos ficou evidenciada neste questionário, assim como a dificuldade no encaminhamento para profissionais não médicos que atuam em DII. Mais de 75% dos médicos relataram dificuldades para realização de enteroscopia por duplo balão e cápsula endoscópica, e 67,8% para realização da calprotectina. Em relação ao número de pacientes atendidos por cada médico, foi evidenciado que não há uma concentração de pacientes sob a responsabilidade de poucos médicos. O infliximabe e o adalimumabe foram os biológicos mais utilizados e ficou evidenciada prescrição maior de derivados de 5-ASA para retocolite ulcerativa quando comparada à doença de Crohn. Os corticoides foram prescritos para uma parcela menor de pacientes em ambas doenças. Os temas "falha a terapia biológica" e "novas drogas" foram referidos como aqueles com maior prioridade para discussão em eventos científicos. Em relação às possíveis diferenças entre cada região e o restante do país, os médicos da região Norte relataram maior dificuldade no acesso a exames complementares e os médicos da região Nordeste, maior dificuldade no acesso ou liberação de medicamentos. CONCLUSÃO: Os dados obtidos por meio deste estudo mostram o perfil do atendimento médico especializado em DII e podem se constituir em ferramenta útil para para elaboração de políticas governamentais e para sociedade brasileira como um todo.

Fatores associados à não adesão dos antirretrovirais em portadores de HIV/AIDS / Factores asociados a la no adhesión a los retrovirales de portadores de VIH/SIDA / Factors associated with non-compliance with antiretrovirals in HIV/AIDS patients

Resumo Objetivo Identificar os fatores associados à não adesão ao tratamento antirretroviral em portadores de HIV/ AIDS em um Hospital de referência em Manaus. Métodos Estudo com abordagem quantitativa, transversal de base hospitalar, desenvolvido com 100 participantes com HIV/AIDS em acompanhamento ambulatorial. Para a coleta de dados foi utilizado o questionário autoaplicável, denominado "Questionário para a avaliação da adesão ao tratamento antirretroviral em pessoas com HIV/AIDS" (CEAT-VIH). Foi realizada análise descritiva, empregado o teste de qui-quadrado de Pearson chi-square para o valor de p. Resultados Predominou o sexo masculino (57%), faixa etária entre 40 a 59 anos (34%) escolaridade de 2º Grau (49%), sem vínculo empregatício (84%), renda mensal de 1 a 3 salários mínimos (54%), solteiros (47%), heterossexuais (76%), com parceiro sexual (56%), sem vida sexual ativa (61%), tempo de diagnóstico entre 6 meses a 5 anos (59%), nenhuma internação hospitalar (59%). O nível de adesão predominante foi a média adesão (85%). As variáveis sociodemográficas que tiveram associação estatisticamente significantes com a adesão TARV foram a orientação sexual (p=0,010) e o tempo de diagnóstico (p=0,035). Conclusão O estudo mostrou que pessoas que convivem com HIV aderem a TARV, porém com média adesão e os principais fatores associados a esse resultado foram a orientação sexual e o tempo de diagnóstico.

Resumen Objetivo Identificar los factores asociados a la no adhesión al tratamiento antirretroviral en portadores de VIH/SIDA en Hospital de referencia de Manaus. Métodos Estudio con abordaje cuantitativo, transversal, de base hospitalaria, desarrollado con 100 participantes con VIH/SIDA en seguimiento ambulatorio. Datos recolectados mediante cuestionario autoaplicable, denominado "Cuestionario para evaluación de la adhesión al tratamiento antirretroviral en personas con VIH/SIDA" (CEAT-VIH). Se realizó análisis descriptivo, utilizando el test de Chi-cuadrado de Pearson Chi-square para el valor de p. Resultados Predominio de sexo masculino (57%), faja etaria de 40 a 59 años (34%), educación secundaria (49%), sin trabajo fijo (84%), ingresos mensuales de 1 a 3 salarios mínimos (54%), solteros (47%), heterosexuales (76%), con pareja sexual (56%), sin vida sexual activa (61%), tiempo de diagnóstico de 6 meses a 5 años (59%), sin internaciones hospitalarias (59%). El nivel de adhesión predominante fue la mediana adhesión (85%). Las variables sociodemográficas con asociación estadísticamente significativa con la adhesión al TARV fueron la orientación sexual (p=0,010) y el tiempo de diagnóstico (p=0,035). Conclusión El estudio mostró que las personas que conviven con VIH adhieren al TARV, aunque con mediana adhesión, y los principales factores asociados a tal resultado fueron la orientación sexual y el tiempo de diagnóstico.

Abstract Objective To identify the factors associated to non-compliance with antiretroviral treatment in HIV / AIDS patients at a reference hospital in Manaus. Methods Hospital-based, quantitative, cross-sectional study developed with 100 participants with HIV / AIDS in outpatient follow-up. For the data collection, the self-administered "Questionnaire for the evaluation of compliance with antiretroviral treatment in people with HIV / AIDS" (CEAT-VIH) was used. Descriptive analysis was performed using the Pearson chi-square to obtain the p-value. Results Male participants were predominant (57%), age between 40 and 59 years (34%), secondary education (49%), without employment bond (84%), monthly income of one to three minimum wages (54% ), unmarried (47%), heterosexual (76%), with sexual partner (56%), without active sexual life (61%), time since diagnosis between six months and five years (59%), no hospitalization (%). The predominant level of compliance was medium compliance (85%). The sociodemographic variables that revealed a statistically significant association with ARVT were sexual orientation (p = 0.010) and time since diagnosis (p = 0.035). Conclusion The study showed that people living with HIV comply with ARVT, but with medium compliance. The main factors associated with this result were sexual orientation and time since diagnosis.