A community-based strategy to eliminate hepatitis C among people who inject drugs in Vietnam

DRIVE-C study group

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background: Towards hepatitis C elimination among people who inject drugs (PWID), we assessed the effectiveness of a strategy consisting of a community-based respondent-driven sampling (RDS) as wide screening, a simplified and integrated hospital-based care, and prevention of reinfection supported by community-based organisations (CBO), in Hai Phong, Vietnam. Methods: Adults who injected heroin were enrolled in a RDS survey implemented in two CBO premises. Rapid HIV and HCV tests were done on site, and blood was taken for HCV RNA testing. Those with detectable HCV RNA were referred with CBO support to three public hospitals for 12-week sofosbuvir/daclatasvir, plus ribavirin for patients with cirrhosis. Participants were followed-up 12 weeks post-treatment (SVR12) and 48 weeks after enrolment. The primary endpoint was the rate of undetectable HCV RNA participants at 48 weeks. Findings: Among the 1444 RDS survey participants, 875 had hepatitis C. Their median age was 41 years (IQR 36–47), 96% were males, 36% were HIV-coinfected. Overall, 686 (78.4%) started sofosbuvir/daclatasvirs, and 629 of the 647 (97.2%) patients tested at SVR12 were cured. At week 48 (581/608) 95.6% had undetectable HCV RNA, representing 66.4% of all PWID identified with hepatitis C. The reinfection rate after SVR12 was 4/100 person-years (95% CI: 2–7). Interpretation: Our strategy, involving CBO and addressing all steps from wide HCV screening to prevention of reinfection, stands as a promising approach to eliminate HCV among PWID in low and middle-income countries. Funding: France ANRS|MIE ( #ANRS12380). The RDS survey was implemented with grants from the NIDA ( #R01DA041978) and ANRS|MIE ( #ANRS12353).

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number100801
JournalThe Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific
Volume37
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2023

Keywords

  • Community-based organisations
  • Hepatitis C
  • People who inject drugs
  • Respondent-driven sampling

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Internal Medicine
  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Health Policy
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Geriatrics and Gerontology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health
  • Infectious Diseases

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A community-based strategy to eliminate hepatitis C among people who inject drugs in Vietnam'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this