Lower Rates of Emergency Department Visits and Hospitalizations Among Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C With Sustained Virological Response to Interferon-Free Direct-Acting Antiviral Therapy (2014-2018)

Clin Infect Dis. 2022 Oct 12;75(8):1453-1456. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciac124.

Abstract

We compared rates of emergency department visits and hospitalizations between patients with hepatitis C virus who achieved sustained virological response after direct-acting antiviral therapy (case patients) and matched controls. Among 3049 pairs, case patients demonstrated lower rates of liver-related emergency department visits (P = .01) than controls; all-cause and liver-related hospitalization rates and number of hospitalized days were also lower in case patients (P < .001).

Keywords: ED; HCV; SVR; healthcare utilization; race.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Emergency Service, Hospital
  • Hepacivirus
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic* / drug therapy
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic* / epidemiology
  • Hospitalization
  • Humans
  • Interferons / therapeutic use
  • Ribavirin / therapeutic use
  • Sustained Virologic Response
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Ribavirin
  • Interferons