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[Financial burden of hepatitis C infection and its treatment]
1Egyesített Szent István és Szent László Kórház Budapest, Gyáli út 5-7., 1097.
Insights
Early diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis C infection, despite new therapy costs, can lead to long-term financial benefits. Screening programs and accessible treatments are key to managing this global health issue.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Public Health
- Health Economics
Context:
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection affects 2-3% of the global population.
- Late diagnosis of HCV is linked to severe liver complications and increased healthcare expenditure.
- Economic burden includes treatment costs, reduced productivity, and loss of quality-adjusted life years.
Purpose:
- To analyze the economic impact of hepatitis C infection.
- To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of early diagnosis and treatment strategies for HCV.
Summary:
- New interferon-free therapies for HCV may have higher upfront costs but offer shorter treatment durations and fewer side effects, potentially lowering overall expenses.
- Cost-effectiveness analyses support early diagnosis and treatment of HCV through organized screening and accessible therapies.
- Implementing screening programs and ensuring wide access to effective treatments can yield long-term financial benefits.
Impact:
- Early detection and treatment of hepatitis C can mitigate severe health complications and reduce national economic burdens.
- Organized screening programs and accessible therapies are crucial for managing HCV and achieving financial benefits.
- Investing in hepatitis C treatment strategies offers a positive return on investment through reduced long-term healthcare costs and improved public health.
Abstract:
The worldwide prevalence of hepatitis C infection is 2-3%. In addition to its individual consequences, it generates huge financial impact on national level. In particular, lack of recognition or late diagnosis of the disease is associated with high rate of liver cirrhosis related complications (hepatic encephalopathy, ascites, variceal bleeding, hepatocellular carcinoma) and/or demands liver transplantation. Loss of quality assisted life years and/or those spent in employment, reduced work productivity, as well as costs of antiviral therapy also contribute to the financial burden. The costs of new interferon-free therapies may exceed the prices of previous pegylated interferon based therapies with or without protease inhibitors; however, shorter treatment durations and extremely low rates of severe side-effects with much less related expenses can reduce total costs of these treatments. In addition to the moral obligations, published cost-effectiveness analyses conclude that early diagnosis and treatment of this primarily iatrogenic infection through organized screening programs and wide access to effective therapies may lead to long term financial benefit.
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