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. 2017 Jun;29(6):686-693.
doi: 10.1097/MEG.0000000000000858.

Direct-acting antivirals are effective for chronic hepatitis C treatment in elderly patients: a real-world study of 17 487 patients

Feng Su  1 , Lauren A Beste, Pamela K Green, Kristin Berry, George N Ioannou
Affiliations

Direct-acting antivirals are effective for chronic hepatitis C treatment in elderly patients: a real-world study of 17 487 patients

Feng Su et al. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2017 Jun.

Abstract

Background: The mean age of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the USA has been increasing. Despite the increasing proportion of HCV-infected elderly patients, this group is under-represented in clinical trials of HCV treatment.

Aim: We aimed to describe the real-world effectiveness of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) among elderly patients.

Patients and methods: We retrospectively identified 17 487 HCV-infected patients who were started on treatment with sofosbuvir, ledipasvir/sofosbuvir, or paritaprevir/ombitasvir/ritonavir/dasabuvir-based regimens in the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System between 1 January 2014 and 30 June 2015. We ascertained sustained virologic response (SVR) rates in patients aged below 55, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, and 75 years or older and performed multivariable logistic regression to determine whether age predicted SVR.

Results: Overall unadjusted SVR rates were 91.2% [95% confidence interval (CI): 89.7-92.4], 89.8% (95% CI: 88.8-90.7), 90.8% (95% CI: 90.1-91.6), 91.1% (95% CI: 90.1-91.9), 90.0% (95% CI: 86.9-92.4), and 93.8% (95% CI: 88.8-96.7) in patients aged below 55, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, and 75 years or older. Unadjusted SVR rates were similar in all age groups after stratifying by genotype, treatment regimen, stage of liver disease, and treatment experience. In multivariate models, age was not predictive of SVR after adjusting for confounders.

Conclusion: DAAs produce high rates of SVR in all age groups, including patients in our oldest age category (≥75 years). Advanced age in and of itself should not be considered a barrier to initiating DAA treatment.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
(a) Sustained virologic responses (SVRs) in all patients by age group. (b) SVRs by genotype and age group. (c) SVRs by stage of liver disease and age group. (d) SVRs by prior treatment experience and age group. *Subgroups containing 20 patients or fewer are not depicted.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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References

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