E Greenaway et al. J Pediatr 2020; DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2020.08.088. Free full text: Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C in Young Children Reduces Adverse Outcomes and Is Cost-Effective Compared with Deferring Treatment to Adulthood
Methods: A state-transition model of chronic HCV was developed to conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis comparing treatment at age 6 years vs delaying treatment until age 18 years
Key findings:
- After 20 years, treating 10 000 children early would prevent 330 cases of cirrhosis, 18 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma, and 48 liver-related deaths
- The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of early treatment compared to delayed treatment was approximately $12 690/quality-adjusted life-years gained and considered cost-effective
My take (=conclusion from authors): Delaying treatment until age 18 years results in an increased lifetime risk of late-stage liver complications. Early treatment in children is cost effective. Our work supports clinical and health policies that broaden HCV treatment access to young children.
Related blog posts:
- Hepatitis C in 2020: NASPGHAN Position Paper -includes the following: “We recommend treatment be considered and offered to all children with chronic HCV as early as 3 years of age with currently approved and anticipated DAA combination therapies”
- Online Aspen Webinar (Part 4 -Hepatitis C 2020)
- Medical Progress: Toward Hepatitis C Elimination (2020 Pediatric Treatment Algorithms)
- ‘Crushing it:” Practice Guidance for Hepatitis C
- Resolution: Eradication of Hepatitis C
- Pediatric HCV Guidelines
- “Crushing it:” Two More Pediatric Hepatitis C Trials
- Hepatitis C Infections Increasing -Tied to Opioid Crisis
- Hepatitis C Cure: Too Late for Many | gutsandgrowth
FP Polack et al. NEJM Full text link: Safety and Efficacy of the BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 Vaccine
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