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http://hdl.handle.net/1942/29869
Title: | A multicentre, observational study on demographic and disease characteristics of patients seeking care for chronic hepatitis C in Belgium in 2016 | Authors: | Bourgeois, S. Mulkay, J. P. Lasser, L. ROBAEYS, Geert Bastens, B. Delwaide, J. Pollet, S. Van den Enden, M. |
Issue Date: | 2019 | Publisher: | UNIV CATHOLIQUE LOUVAIN-UCL | Source: | ACTA GASTRO-ENTEROLOGICA BELGICA, 82(1), p. 43-52 | Abstract: | Background and Study Aims : Direct-acting antivirals provide interferon-free treatments for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) virus infection. In Belgium, in 2016, access to these agents was limited to patients with advanced liver fibrosis stages F3 and F4. This study is the first to describe Belgium's patient population ineligible for interferon-free treatment. Patients and Methods : This was an observational, cross-sectional, multicentre study that enrolled adult patients with CHC ineligible for interferon-free treatment. Patient data recorded at a single visit included demographic data, disease characteristics, comorbidities, co-medications, treatment status, and laboratory data. Results : Three hundred and three patients from 16 centres in Belgium were included in the statistical analysis. On average, patients were aged 53.5 years and 50.2% were women; 94.1% had health insurance and 99.0% resided in Belgium. The current hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was the first infection for 96.0% of patients and the mean time since infection was 20.0 years. Liver fibrosis stage was F0 for 23.7%, F0/F1 or F1 for 38.3%, F1/F2 or F2 for 25.8%, F3 for 7.1%, and F4 for 5.1% of patients; 28.4% of patients were CHC treatment-experienced. The main reason for ineligibility for interferon-free treatment was lack of reimbursement (84.8%). Other reasons included no treatment urgency or medical decision to wait (27.1%), waiting for future treatment option (8.3%), and no social insurance coverage (3.6%). Conclusions : This study provides recent data on the CHC patient population and disease characteristics in Belgium that could help medical communities and government agencies manage CHC disease burden. | Notes: | [Bourgeois, S.] ZNA Gastroteam, Antwerp, Belgium. [Mulkay, J. P.] CHU St Pierre, Brussels, Belgium. [Lasser, L.] CHU Brugmann, Brussels, Belgium. [Robaeys, G.] Ziekenhuis Oost Limburg, Dept Gastroenterol & Hepatol, Genk, Belgium. [Robaeys, G.] Univ Hasselt, Fac Med & Life Sci, Hasselt, Belgium. [Bastens, B.] CHC Liege, Liege, Belgium. [Delwaide, J.] CHU Sart Tilman, Liege, Belgium. [Pollet, S.; Van den Enden, M.] AbbVie SA NV, Ave Einstein 14, B-1300 Wavre, Belgium. | Keywords: | Gastroenterology & Hepatology;Belgium; chronic hepatitis C; direct antiviral agent; interferon-free regimen; observational | Document URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/1942/29869 | ISSN: | 1784-3227 | e-ISSN: | 1784-3227 | ISI #: | 000473740400008 | Category: | A1 | Type: | Journal Contribution | Validations: | ecoom 2020 |
Appears in Collections: | Research publications |
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