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. 2022 Nov 13;12(11):1873.
doi: 10.3390/life12111873.

Viral Hepatitis C New Microelimination Pathways Objective: Psychiatric Communities HCV Free

Vito Fiore  1 , Andrea De Vito  1 , Agnese Colpani  1 , Valentina Manca  1 , Ivana Maida  1 , Giordano Madeddu  1 , Sergio Babudieri  1
Affiliations

Viral Hepatitis C New Microelimination Pathways Objective: Psychiatric Communities HCV Free

Vito Fiore et al. Life (Basel). .

Abstract

Background: People with psychiatric disorders have a high prevalence of HCV. For this reason, tailored interventions should be developed to reach this population.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study on patients treated for HCV infection in psychiatric nursing homes, approached with a quick diagnosis, staging and treatment.

Results: We included data on 586 people screened for HCV with quick tests. High HCV seroprevalence was found in this population (231; 39.4%). Among people who tested positive, there were high rates of active infection (220; 95.2%). Out of the 220 patients with active infection, 95.9% were male, 85.5% were Italian, median age was 43 (IQR = 35-52) years old. In the majority of cases (162; 73.6%), the risk factor was unknown. The most common genotype was 3a (98; 44.5%), and patients mostly had a low fibrosis, according with FIB-4 value (142; 64.5%). Of them, one (0.45%) categorically refused the treatment, and one (0.45%) had liver cirrhosis and advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Overall, 218 patients underwent eligibility for DAAs. The most prescribed treatment was glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (GLE/PIB (172; 78.2%)). The others practiced sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (SOF/VEL). All patients reached the end of treatment. One (0.45%) was lost to follow up, and all the others reached the SVR12.

Conclusions: The point-of-care testing and pangenotypic DAAs' availability represent one of the most important steps for a fast diagnostic and therapeutical option. Tailored microelimination pathways for every difficult-to-reach/to-treat populations are needed. This would allow us to move more easily towards HCV elimination.

Keywords: DAAs; chronic HCV hepatitis; microelimination programs; psychiatric disorders.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Cascade of care in 220 patients with psychiatric disorders with HCV infection.
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