• Am J Prev Med · Sep 2020

    Public Health Clinic-Based Hepatitis C Treatment.

    • Amanda M Rosecrans, Aneesha Cheedalla, Sarah T Rives, Lisa A Scotti, Robert E Harris, Adena H Greenbaum, Risha R Irvin, Boatemaa A Ntiri-Reid, Holly T Brown, Karen E Alston, Jaeson A Smith, Kathleen R Page, and Oluwaseun O Falade-Nwulia.
    • Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; Division of Population Health and Disease Prevention, Baltimore City Health Department, Baltimore, Maryland. Electronic address: amanda.rosecrans@baltimorecity.gov.
    • Am J Prev Med. 2020 Sep 1; 59 (3): 420-427.

    IntroductionThe availability of safe, effective treatments for hepatitis C virus infection has led to a call for the elimination of hepatitis C, but barriers to care persist.MethodsIn July 2015, the Baltimore City Health Department sexual health clinics began on-site hepatitis C virus treatment. Investigators conducted a retrospective evaluation of the first 2.5 years of this program. Data were extracted from the medical record through June 2019, and data analysis was completed in September 2019.ResultsBetween July 2015 and December 2017, a total of 560 patients infected with hepatitis C virus accessed care at the Baltimore City Health Department sexual health clinics. Of these patients, 423 (75.5%) were scheduled for hepatitis C virus evaluation at the clinics, 347 (62.0%) attended their evaluation appointment, 266 (47.5%) were prescribed treatment, 227 (40.5%) initiated treatment, and 199 (35.5%) achieved sustained virologic response. Older age was independently associated with hepatitis C virus evaluation appointment attendance (aged 40-59 years: AOR=3.64, 95% CI=1.88, 7.06; aged ≥60 years: AOR=5.61, 95% CI=2.58, 12.21) compared with those aged 20-39 years. Among those who attended hepatitis C virus evaluation appointments, advanced liver disease was independently and positively associated with treatment initiation (AOR=11.89, 95% CI=6.35, 22.25). Conversely, illicit substance use in the past 12 months was negatively associated with hepatitis C virus treatment initiation (AOR=0.49, 95% CI=0.25, 0.96).ConclusionsThe integration of hepatitis C virus testing and on-site treatment in public sexual health clinics is an innovative approach to improve access to hepatitis C virus treatment for medically underserved populations.Copyright © 2020 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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