Higher Hepatitis C Virus Cure Rates Seen With Facilitated Telemedicine
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
FRIDAY, April 12, 2024 -- Significantly higher hepatitis C virus cure rates are seen for patients receiving opioid treatment program-integrated facilitated telemedicine versus off-site hepatitis specialist referral, according to a study published online April 3 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Andrew H. Talal, M.D., M.P.H., from the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo in New York, and colleagues compared sustained virologic responses for hepatitis C virus among 602 hepatitis C-infected persons with opioid use disorder treated through facilitated telemedicine integrated into opioid treatment programs versus off-site hepatitis specialist referral in a cluster randomized clinical trial (290 and 312 patients, respectively).
The researchers found that 92.4 and 40.4 percent of patients in the telemedicine and referral groups, respectively, initiated treatment. Intention-to-treat cure percentages were 90.3 and 39.4 percent in the telemedicine and referral groups, respectively, with an estimated logarithmic odds ratio of 2.9 for the study group effect, with no effect modification. The observed cure percentages were 84.8 and 34.0 percent in the telemedicine and referral groups, respectively. Subgroup effects were not found to be significant, including fibrosis stage, urban or rural residence, or mental health comorbid conditions. There was a significant decrease seen in illicit drug use among cured participants (95 percent for both the telemedicine and referral group). There were minimal reinfections (13), with an incidence of 2.5 per 100 person-years for hepatitis C virus reinfection. In both groups, health care delivery satisfaction was rated as high or very high.
"Opioid treatment program-integrated facilitated telemedicine promotes increased access and integrates hepatitis C virus treatment into venues that offer opioid use disorder treatment," the authors write.
One author disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted April 2024
Read this next
BMI Cutoff of 30 for Obesity May Be Too High for Middle-Aged, Older Adults
FRIDAY, May 31, 2024 -- The optimal body mass index (BMI) cutoff point appears to be 27 kg/m2 for detecting obesity in middle-aged and older adults, according to a study presented...
Emergency Inguinal Hernia Surgery Rates Increased With Lower Country Income
FRIDAY, May 31, 2024 -- For patients undergoing inguinal hernia surgery, emergency surgery rates increase from high- to low-income countries, according to a study published online...
Maternal Serum Alpha-Fetoprotein Levels Higher in Black Than White Women
FRIDAY, May 31, 2024 -- Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels are higher in Black than White pregnant women, supporting the use of accounting for these differences in...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.