Monitoring hepatitis C treatment
uptake in Australia Issue #12 July 20221
Initiations of chronic hepatitis C treatment from 2016 to 2021
A total of 99,735 individuals have initiated direct acting antiviral (DAA) treatment for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Australia, including 95,395 individuals through Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) during 2016 to 2021, and an estimated 4,340 individuals through early DAA access avenues in 2014-15. An estimated 53% of the people living with chronic HCV infection in Australia in 2015 have initiated DAA treatment (29-60% across jurisdictions). Of 95,395 individuals receiving DAA treatment through the PBS, 6,808 individuals (7%) received at least one further treatment course (re-treatment). Among individuals initiating DAA treatment during 2016 to 2021 (n=95,395), 68% were men, and median age was 48 years (quartiles 1-3: 39-57). Since August 2018 when both pan-genotypic regimens were available (i.e., sofosbuvir/ velpatasvir and glecaprevir/pibrentasvir), 53% of individuals have been initiated on sofosbuvir/velpatasvir, 39% on glecaprevir/pibrentasvir, and 8% on other regimens. Most individuals initiating DAA treatment received their prescriptions from gastroenterologists (40%), followed by general practitioners (GPs; 37%). Overall, 59% of individuals were initiated on treatment by specialists, and 39% by non-specialists (i.e., GPs and nurse practitioners). A total of 1,367 individuals were initiated on treatment by nurse practitioners, increasing from 80 in 2017 to 466 in 2021.
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The Kirby Institute. Monitoring hepatitis C treatment uptake in Australia (Issue 12). The Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, NSW, Australia, July 2020 (available online at: https://kirby.unsw.edu.au/report/monitoring-hepatitis-c-treatment-uptake-australia-issue-12-july-2022). For more information, contact Dr Behzad Hajarizadeh (bhajarizadeh@kirby.unsw.edu.au) or Professor Greg Dore (gdore@kirby.unsw.edu.au).
Issue #12
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