Objective: To describe pill burden before and after hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment initiation among patients newly treated for HCV infection, and to evaluate the association between HCV pill burden and gaps in HCV therapy. Methods: This was a retrospective administrative claims study of patients treated with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) for HCV from 1 November 2013 to 31 July 2016. HCV pill burden was defined as the pill count per day for the index HCV regimen. Mean overall pill burden (HCV medications plus non-HCV medications) was calculated in the 90 days before and after DAA initiation. Gaps in the index HCV regimen were assessed in the 6 months after DAA initiation. Multivariable logistic regression was used to compare the odds of a gap in HCV therapy across HCV pill burden categories (1 pill/day, 2 pills/day, and ≥3 pills/day). Results: Among 9815 patients who met the study criteria, mean overall pill burdens before and after DAA treatment initiation were 5.4 and 7.7, respectively (p < .001). The adjusted odds ratio (OR) of a ≥15-day gap in HCV therapy was 1.75 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.38-2.22) for patients with 2 HCV pills/day and 2.11 (95% CI = 1.78-2.51) for patients with ≥3 pills/day, compared with patients with 1 HCV pill/day. Conclusions: Patients with HCV have a substantial pill burden even before initiating HCV treatment. As higher HCV pill burden was associated with lower medication adherence, pill burden should be an important consideration in HCV treatment selection.
Objective: To describe pill burden before and after hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment initiation among patients newly treated for HCV infection, and to evaluate the association between HCV pill burden and gaps in HCV therapy. Methods: This was a retrospective administrative claims study of patients treated with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) for HCV from 1 November 2013 to 31 July 2016. HCV pill burden was defined as the pill count per day for the index HCV regimen. Mean overall pill burden (HCV medications plus non-HCV medications) was calculated in the 90 days before and after DAA initiation. Gaps in the index HCV regimen were assessed in the 6 months after DAA initiation. Multivariable logistic regression was used to compare the odds of a gap in HCV therapy across HCV pill burden categories (1 pill/day, 2 pills/day, and ≥3 pills/day). Results: Among 9815 patients who met the study criteria, mean overall pill burdens before and after DAA treatment initiation were 5.4 and 7.7, respectively (p < .001). The adjusted odds ratio (OR) of a ≥15-day gap in HCV therapy was 1.75 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.38-2.22) for patients with 2 HCV pills/day and 2.11 (95% CI = 1.78-2.51) for patients with ≥3 pills/day, compared with patients with 1 HCV pill/day. Conclusions: Patients with HCV have a substantial pill burden even before initiating HCV treatment. As higher HCV pill burden was associated with lower medication adherence, pill burden should be an important consideration in HCV treatment selection.
Authors: Liza Coyer; Oudou Njoya; Richard Njouom; Tatiana Mossus; Mathurin Pierre Kowo; Frida Essomba; Alexander Boers; Roel Coutinho; Pascale Ondoa Journal: Trop Med Int Health Date: 2020-07-05 Impact factor: 2.622
Authors: Lindsy Liu; Monika N Daftary; Mohammad S Alzahrani; Chiemena Ohanele; Mary K Maneno Journal: J Natl Med Assoc Date: 2020-08-28 Impact factor: 1.798