Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 1, 2026

An Affordable HIV-1 Drug Resistance Monitoring Method for Resource Limited Settings
19:57

An Affordable HIV-1 Drug Resistance Monitoring Method for Resource Limited Settings

Published on: March 30, 2014

19.4K

Value of Comprehensive HCV Treatment among Vulnerable, High-Risk Populations

Gigi A Moreno1, Alice Wang2, Yuri Sánchez González2

  • 1Precision Health Economics, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Value in Health : the Journal of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research
|June 5, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Expanding hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment access to all patients, including people who inject drugs (PWID), is cost-saving and saves lives. This strategy significantly reduces HCV infections and prevalence, offering substantial societal benefits.

Area of Science:

  • Health economics
  • Epidemiology
  • Public health policy

Background:

  • Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection poses a significant public health challenge.
  • Expanding treatment access to early-stage and high-risk populations is a key policy consideration.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the societal and payer trade-offs associated with expanding HCV treatment access.
  • To evaluate the economic and health benefits of broader treatment strategies for HCV.

Main Methods:

  • A discrete time Markov model simulated HCV progression and treatment over 20 years.
  • Modeled six treatment scenarios with varying access levels for different fibrosis stages and risk cohorts (PWID, MSM-HIV).
  • Assessed benefits using quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) with a $150,000/QALY valuation.

Main Results:

  • Expanding treatment to all fibrosis stages and including PWID reduced new HCV infections by 55% and prevalence by 93% over 20 years.
  • Treating all HCV-infected individuals was found to be cost-saving, with net social benefits exceeding $500 billion compared to limited treatment.
  • Including PWID in treatment access is estimated to save 12,900 to 41,200 lives.

Conclusions:

  • Increased HCV treatment access provides substantial long-term societal value and reduces payer costs.
  • The benefits of reduced infections, mortality, and medical costs outweigh initial treatment expenses.
  • Broadening treatment access is a cost-effective strategy for managing HCV.
Abstract

Keywords:
Markov modelhepatitis Cmen who have sex with menpeople who inject drugs

More Related Videos

A Three-Dimensional Spheroid Model to Investigate the Tumor-Stromal Interaction in Hepatocellular Carcinoma12:24

A Three-Dimensional Spheroid Model to Investigate the Tumor-Stromal Interaction in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Published on: September 30, 2021

6.2K
Comprehensive & Cost Effective Laboratory Monitoring of HIV/AIDS: an African Role Model23:56

Comprehensive & Cost Effective Laboratory Monitoring of HIV/AIDS: an African Role Model

Published on: October 31, 2010

17.3K

Related Concept Videos

Retrovirus Life Cycles01:10

Retrovirus Life Cycles

Retroviruses have a single-stranded RNA genome that undergoes a special form of replication. Once the retrovirus has entered the host cell, an enzyme called reverse transcriptase synthesizes double-stranded DNA from the retroviral RNA genome. This DNA copy of the genome is then integrated into the host’s genome inside the nucleus via an enzyme called integrase. Consequently, the retroviral genome is transcribed into RNA whenever the host’s genome is transcribed, allowing the...
50.0K
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Dose Adjustments Due to Hepatic Impairment01:08

Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Dose Adjustments Due to Hepatic Impairment

Hepatic impairment, characterized by decreased liver function, does not uniformly mandate adjustments in drug dosage. Whether dosage modifications are necessary depends on various factors related to the drug's metabolism and elimination pathways. If a drug is primarily excreted via the kidneys and bypasses significant hepatic processing, if it undergoes minimal metabolic transformation in the liver, or if it is volatile and primarily expelled through the lungs, dose adjustments may not be...
316
Treatment Resistant Cancers02:56

Treatment Resistant Cancers

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. A cancer cell is genetically unstable and hence can mutate faster. They can also modify their microenvironment and escape immune surveillance. The difficulties in treating cancer are further compounded by the emergence of rapid resistance to anticancer drugs. The most common ways to attain resistance in cancer cells include alteration in drug transport and metabolism, modification of drug target, elevated DNA damage response, or...
3.8K
Preventive Healthcare Services01:30

Preventive Healthcare Services

Preventive healthcare services keep people healthy via frequent check-ups, screening, and counseling. They primarily aid in disease prevention rather than treating an acute or chronic illness. Preventive treatment also keeps individuals productive and energetic, allowing them to work well into their retirement years. Examples of preventive care services include:
2.3K
Chronic Pancreatitis II: Collaborative Care01:29

Chronic Pancreatitis II: Collaborative Care

The management of chronic pancreatitis is multifaceted, involving a comprehensive approach that includes thorough assessment, diagnostic testing, and a variety of management strategies.
Assessment:
439
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Drug Dosing and Hepatic Blood Flow01:26

Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Drug Dosing and Hepatic Blood Flow

Chronic liver disease significantly impacts drug metabolism due to alterations in hepatic blood flow and enzyme accessibility. This disruption affects the body's pharmacokinetics—the movement and processing of drugs within the system. Key enzymes crucial for metabolizing medications become less accessible, changing how drugs are processed and utilized. Furthermore, liver disease influences the synthesis of plasma proteins, such as albumin and globulins, which play critical roles in drug...
302