Comparing Treatment Response Between Older and Younger Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection on Direct-acting Antiviral Agents

摘要

OBJECTIVE: To compare sustained virologic response 12weeks post-treatment completion (SVR12) and patientcharacteristics for older versus younger patients withchronic hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) receiving direct-acting antiviral (DAA) agent therapy.METHODS: This retrospective cohort study includedpatients with chronic HCV who received DAA therapy,between 2015 and 2018, in the largest health system inRhode Island (N=154). Patient characteristics, comorbiddiagnoses, and SVR12 status were compared betweenolder (aged ≥60 years) and younger (60 years) adults usingchi-squared tests.RESULTS: Overall, 94.1% (95% CI: 90.4–97.8) achievedSVR12; response rates were 91.8% (95% CI: 84.9–98.6)for older adults and 95.6% (95% CI: 91.5-99.8) for youngeradults (p=0.51).CONCLUSIONS: Our findings refute the historical notionthat older adults were a “difficult-to-treat” subpopulationfor whom clinicians should expect less treatmentsuccess. This is no longer the case with DAA therapy.