Eliminating Structural Barriers: The Impact of Unrestricted Access on Hepatitis C Treatment Uptake Among People Living With Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

ABSTRACT:

Background

High costs of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) have led health-care insurers to limit access worldwide. Using a natural experiment, we evaluated the impact of removing fibrosis stage restrictions on hepatitis C (HCV) treatment initiation rates among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and then examined who was left to be treated.

Methods

Using data from the Canadian HIV-HCV Coinfection Cohort, we applied a difference-in-differences approach. Changes in treatment initiation rates following the removal of fibrosis stage restrictions were assessed using a negative binomial regression with generalized estimating equations. The policy change was then specifically assessed among people who inject drugs (PWID). We then identified the characteristics of

SUBMITTER: Saeed S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7353326 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature