The hepatitis C cascade of care in the Belgian HIV population: one step closer to elimination

Dana Busschots; Cécile Kremer; Özgür M Koc; Leen Heyens; Rob Bielen; Ludwig Apers; Eric Florence; Peter Messiaen; Kristel Van Laethem; Eric Van Wijngaerden; Frederik Nevens; Niel Hens; Geert Robaeys

doi:10.1016/j.ijid.2021.02.068

The hepatitis C cascade of care in the Belgian HIV population: one step closer to elimination

Dana Busschots, Cécile Kremer, Özgür M Koc, Leen Heyens, Rob Bielen, Ludwig Apers, Eric Florence, Peter Messiaen, Kristel Van Laethem, Eric Van Wijngaerden, Frederik Nevens, Niel Hens, Geert Robaeys

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Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The Belgian population of people living with HIV (PLHIV) has unrestricted access to direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, since 2017. International literature claims that half of the patients remain untreated in high-income countries with unrestricted access to DAA. This study was initiated to provide an overview of the present situation in Belgium and recommendations for HCV care in PLHIV in other regions.

METHODS: This was a retrospective, multicenter study of PLHIV in Belgium, from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2018. The HCV cascade of care was examined.

RESULTS: Out of 4607 unique PLHIV, 322 (7.0%) tested positive for HCV antibody and HCV RNA positivity was seen in 289 (6.3%). Of those with a proven HCV infection, 207/289 (71.6%) initiated treatment. Of the 171 (82.6%) persons with a sustained virologic response (SVR), 16 (9.4%) subjects were reinfected.

CONCLUSIONS: We present a care cascade of 4607 PLHIV in Belgium. Treatment initiation and SVR rates were high compared to other regions. Implementation of a national HCV register to track progress and yearly screening, especially in PLHIV with high-risk behavior, remains crucial. Identifying reasons for not initiating treatment is necessary to achieve elimination of HCV in PLHIV by 2030.

Original language	English
Journal	International Journal of Infectious Diseases
Volume	105
Pages (from-to)	217-223
Number of pages	7
ISSN	1201-9712
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2021.02.068
Publication status	Published - 2021

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Busschots, D., Kremer, C., Koc, Ö. M., Heyens, L., Bielen, R., Apers, L., Florence, E., Messiaen, P., Van Laethem, K., Van Wijngaerden, E., Nevens, F., Hens, N., & Robaeys, G. (2021). The hepatitis C cascade of care in the Belgian HIV population: one step closer to elimination. International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 105, 217-223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2021.02.068

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title = "The hepatitis C cascade of care in the Belgian HIV population: one step closer to elimination",

abstract = "OBJECTIVES: The Belgian population of people living with HIV (PLHIV) has unrestricted access to direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, since 2017. International literature claims that half of the patients remain untreated in high-income countries with unrestricted access to DAA. This study was initiated to provide an overview of the present situation in Belgium and recommendations for HCV care in PLHIV in other regions.METHODS: This was a retrospective, multicenter study of PLHIV in Belgium, from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2018. The HCV cascade of care was examined.RESULTS: Out of 4607 unique PLHIV, 322 (7.0%) tested positive for HCV antibody and HCV RNA positivity was seen in 289 (6.3%). Of those with a proven HCV infection, 207/289 (71.6%) initiated treatment. Of the 171 (82.6%) persons with a sustained virologic response (SVR), 16 (9.4%) subjects were reinfected.CONCLUSIONS: We present a care cascade of 4607 PLHIV in Belgium. Treatment initiation and SVR rates were high compared to other regions. Implementation of a national HCV register to track progress and yearly screening, especially in PLHIV with high-risk behavior, remains crucial. Identifying reasons for not initiating treatment is necessary to achieve elimination of HCV in PLHIV by 2030.",

author = "Dana Busschots and C{\'e}cile Kremer and Koc, {{\"O}zg{\"u}r M} and Leen Heyens and Rob Bielen and Ludwig Apers and Eric Florence and Peter Messiaen and {Van Laethem}, Kristel and {Van Wijngaerden}, Eric and Frederik Nevens and Niel Hens and Geert Robaeys",

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year = "2021",

doi = "10.1016/j.ijid.2021.02.068",

language = "English",

volume = "105",

pages = "217--223",

journal = "International Journal of Infectious Diseases",

issn = "1201-9712",

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Busschots, D, Kremer, C, Koc, ÖM, Heyens, L, Bielen, R, Apers, L, Florence, E, Messiaen, P, Van Laethem, K, Van Wijngaerden, E, Nevens, F, Hens, N & Robaeys, G 2021, 'The hepatitis C cascade of care in the Belgian HIV population: one step closer to elimination', International Journal of Infectious Diseases, vol. 105, pp. 217-223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2021.02.068

TY - JOUR

T1 - The hepatitis C cascade of care in the Belgian HIV population: one step closer to elimination

AU - Busschots, Dana

AU - Kremer, Cécile

AU - Koc, Özgür M

AU - Heyens, Leen

AU - Bielen, Rob

AU - Apers, Ludwig

AU - Florence, Eric

AU - Messiaen, Peter

AU - Van Laethem, Kristel

AU - Van Wijngaerden, Eric

AU - Nevens, Frederik

AU - Hens, Niel

AU - Robaeys, Geert

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - OBJECTIVES: The Belgian population of people living with HIV (PLHIV) has unrestricted access to direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, since 2017. International literature claims that half of the patients remain untreated in high-income countries with unrestricted access to DAA. This study was initiated to provide an overview of the present situation in Belgium and recommendations for HCV care in PLHIV in other regions.METHODS: This was a retrospective, multicenter study of PLHIV in Belgium, from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2018. The HCV cascade of care was examined.RESULTS: Out of 4607 unique PLHIV, 322 (7.0%) tested positive for HCV antibody and HCV RNA positivity was seen in 289 (6.3%). Of those with a proven HCV infection, 207/289 (71.6%) initiated treatment. Of the 171 (82.6%) persons with a sustained virologic response (SVR), 16 (9.4%) subjects were reinfected.CONCLUSIONS: We present a care cascade of 4607 PLHIV in Belgium. Treatment initiation and SVR rates were high compared to other regions. Implementation of a national HCV register to track progress and yearly screening, especially in PLHIV with high-risk behavior, remains crucial. Identifying reasons for not initiating treatment is necessary to achieve elimination of HCV in PLHIV by 2030.

AB - OBJECTIVES: The Belgian population of people living with HIV (PLHIV) has unrestricted access to direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, since 2017. International literature claims that half of the patients remain untreated in high-income countries with unrestricted access to DAA. This study was initiated to provide an overview of the present situation in Belgium and recommendations for HCV care in PLHIV in other regions.METHODS: This was a retrospective, multicenter study of PLHIV in Belgium, from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2018. The HCV cascade of care was examined.RESULTS: Out of 4607 unique PLHIV, 322 (7.0%) tested positive for HCV antibody and HCV RNA positivity was seen in 289 (6.3%). Of those with a proven HCV infection, 207/289 (71.6%) initiated treatment. Of the 171 (82.6%) persons with a sustained virologic response (SVR), 16 (9.4%) subjects were reinfected.CONCLUSIONS: We present a care cascade of 4607 PLHIV in Belgium. Treatment initiation and SVR rates were high compared to other regions. Implementation of a national HCV register to track progress and yearly screening, especially in PLHIV with high-risk behavior, remains crucial. Identifying reasons for not initiating treatment is necessary to achieve elimination of HCV in PLHIV by 2030.

U2 - 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.02.068

DO - 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.02.068

M3 - A1: Web of Science-article

C2 - 33610786

SN - 1201-9712

VL - 105

SP - 217

EP - 223

JO - International Journal of Infectious Diseases

JF - International Journal of Infectious Diseases

ER -

The hepatitis C cascade of care in the Belgian HIV population: one step closer to elimination

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