Access to direct-acting antivirals for the treatment of hepatitis C in a country with limited resources
Authors
S Marciano, Sección de Hepatología, Hospital Italiano, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Departamento de Investigación, Hospital Italiano, Buenos Aires, Argentina
L Haddad, Sección de Hepatología, Hospital Italiano, Buenos Aires, Argentina
S M. Borzi, Sección de Hepatología, Hospital R. Rossi, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
C D'Amico, Hepatología, Centro de Especialidades Médicas Ambulatorias (CEMA), Municipalidad General Pueyrredón, Mar del Plata, Argentina
L A. Gaite, Unidad de Hepatología y Trasplante Hepático, Clínica de Nefrología, Santa Fe, Argentina
M V. Aubone, Sección de Hepatología, Hospital R. Rossi, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
M E. Sirotinsky, Centro de Estudios Digestivos (CEDIG), Comodoro Rivadavia, Chubut, Argentina
N Ratusnu, Hospital Regional de Ushuaia, Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
M S. Frola, Servicio de Infectología, Hospital Luis Pasteur, Villa María, Córdoba, Argentina
M C. Aparicio, Hospital Artemides Zatti, Viedma, Río Negro, Argentina
B Ríos, Sección de Infectología, Centro de Investigación (CEIN), Neuquén, Argentina
M N. Anselmo, Servicio de Gastroenterología y Hepatología, Hospital Zonal Esquel, Esquel, Chubut, Argentina
R Hansen, Hospital de Área El Bolsón, El Bolsón, Río Negro, Argentina
S De Filippi, Hospital Ramón Carrillo, Centro Médico del Sur, San Martín de los Andes, Neuquén, Argentina
C Garcia Dans, Hospital Zonal Bariloche Dr. Ramón Carrillo, Bariloche, Río Negro, Argentina
L de Labra, Hospital Zonal Bariloche Dr. Ramón Carrillo, Bariloche, Río Negro, Argentina
M A. Peche, Hospital Francisco López Lima, General Roca, Río Negro, Argentina
T M. Strella, Hospital Zonal Puerto Madryn Dr. Andrés Ísola, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
M Ibáñez Duran, Hospital Zatti, Viedma, Río Negro, Argentina
M B. García Rosales, Hepatología y Gastroenterología, Centro de Estudios Digestivos de Mendoza (CEDIM), Mendoza, Argentina
M Dirchwolf, Unidad de Hígado, Hospital Privado de Rosario, Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina
O A. Galdame, Sección de Hepatología, Hospital Italiano, Buenos Aires, Argentina
A C. Gadano, Sección de Hepatología, Hospital Italiano, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Departamento de Investigación, Hospital Italiano, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Publication Date
4-1-2018
Abstract
AIMS: To estimate the number of patients that have access to treatment of hepatitis C with direct-acting antivirals in Argentina and evaluate the factors associated with the lack of access.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional cohort study was conducted that included all the consecutive prescriptions of direct-acting antivirals issued at health centers that participated in the ECHOTM telemedicine project directed by the Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, within the time frame of January 2016 and February 2017.
RESULTS: A total of 143 treatment prescriptions were included and overall access was 70% (95% CI 62-77%). The only independent factor associated with a lack of treatment access was coverage by a public healthcare system (OR 4.98 [95% CI 2.05- 12.09]).
CONCLUSION: Patients with hepatitis C that were covered by a public healthcare system had a 4 times higher chance of not having access to treatment with direct-acting antivirals than patients covered by other healthcare systems (private insurance or the social welfare system).
Recommended Citation
Marciano S, Haddad L, Borzi SM, D'Amico C, Gaite LA, Aubone MV, Sirotinsky ME, Ratusnu N, Frola MS, Aparicio MC, Ríos B, Anselmo MN, Hansen R, De Filippi S, Dans CG, de Labra L, Peche MA, Strella TM, Ibáñez Duran M, García Rosales MB, Dirchwolf M, Galdame OA, Gadano AC. Access to direct-acting antivirals for the treatment of hepatitis C in a country with limited resources. Rev Gastroenterol Mex (Engl Ed). 2018 Apr-Jun;83(2):208-211. English, Spanish. doi: 10.1016/j.rgmx.2018.02.009. Epub 2018 Apr 12. PMID: 29656845.
