Prabha Lakhan1, Deborah Askew1,2, Noel Hayman1, Leigh-Anne Pokino1, Cheryl Sendall1, Paul J Clark1,3,4. 1. Southern Queensland Centre of Excellence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care, Queensland. 2. The University of Queensland, Primary Care Clinical Unit, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Queensland. 3. Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland. 4. Department of Gastroenterology, The Princess Alexandra and Mater Hospitals, Queensland.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Describe the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of patients with Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) attending an urban Indigenous primary health clinic (IPHC) in Brisbane, Australia. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of sociodemographic characteristics, presence of liver disease and treatments, lifestyle behaviours and comorbidities in patients with a HCV infection was conducted between October 2015 and March 2016. RESULTS: One hundred and thirteen patients with confirmed HCV infection were aged between seven and 63 years; 66% were male, and 84% were Indigenous. Sixty-nine per cent had been incarcerated; 41% had experienced conflict or domestic violence; 47% were injecting drugs; 72% had depression; and 61% had anxiety. Cirrhosis was present in 7/95 patients with adequate data and associated with age (p=0.02). Eleven patients had commenced direct acting antiviral (DAA) therapy in the 18 months that it had been available. CONCLUSIONS: The study highlights the opportunities for enhancing treatment of patients with HCV infection. Opportunities to improve treatment rates in an Indigenous primary healthcare include optimising diagnostic pathways, improving patient engagement, and general practitioner and peer worker participation. Implications for public health: HCV poses a serious threat to public health in Australia and IPHCs are key sites to addressing this for Indigenous people. Optimising care of patients with HCV attending IPHC requires recognition of the complex health needs and social context, to reduce the incidence and consequences of HCV infection.
OBJECTIVE: Describe the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of patients with Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) attending an urban Indigenous primary health clinic (IPHC) in Brisbane, Australia. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of sociodemographic characteristics, presence of liver disease and treatments, lifestyle behaviours and comorbidities in patients with a HCV infection was conducted between October 2015 and March 2016. RESULTS: One hundred and thirteen patients with confirmed HCV infection were aged between seven and 63 years; 66% were male, and 84% were Indigenous. Sixty-nine per cent had been incarcerated; 41% had experienced conflict or domestic violence; 47% were injecting drugs; 72% had depression; and 61% had anxiety. Cirrhosis was present in 7/95 patients with adequate data and associated with age (p=0.02). Eleven patients had commenced direct acting antiviral (DAA) therapy in the 18 months that it had been available. CONCLUSIONS: The study highlights the opportunities for enhancing treatment of patients with HCV infection. Opportunities to improve treatment rates in an Indigenous primary healthcare include optimising diagnostic pathways, improving patient engagement, and general practitioner and peer worker participation. Implications for public health: HCV poses a serious threat to public health in Australia and IPHCs are key sites to addressing this for Indigenous people. Optimising care of patients with HCV attending IPHC requires recognition of the complex health needs and social context, to reduce the incidence and consequences of HCV infection.
Authors: Paul J Clark; Patricia C Valery; James Ward; Simone I Strasser; Martin Weltman; Alexander Thompson; Miriam T Levy; Barbara Leggett; Amany Zekry; Julian Rong; Peter Angus; Jacob George; Steven Bollipo; Bruce McGarity; William Sievert; Gerry Macquillan; Edmund Tse; Amanda Nicoll; Amanda Wade; Geoff Chu; Damian Harding; Wendy Cheng; Geoff Farrell; Stuart K Roberts Journal: BMC Gastroenterol Date: 2022-07-11 Impact factor: 2.847