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Efficacy and Tolerability of Direct‐Acting Antivirals for Hepatitis C in Older Adults
Author(s) -
Mazzarelli Chiara,
Considine Aisling,
Childs Kate,
Carey Ivana,
Manini Matteo Angelo,
Suddle Abid,
Dusheiko Geoffrey,
Agarwal Kosh,
Can Mary D.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/jgs.15392
Subject(s) - medicine , tolerability , ribavirin , anemia , hepatitis c , adverse effect , hepatitis c virus , pharmacotherapy , immunology , virus
Objectives To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of direct‐acting antiviral (DAA) therapy in individuals aged 65 and older. Design Retrospective review between June 2014 and January 2017. Setting Viral hepatitis outpatient clinic. Participants Individuals aged 65 and older treated with DAA therapy for hepatitis C virus (HCV) during the study period (N=113) divided into 2 cohorts: aged 65 to 74 (n=88) and aged 75 and older (n=25). Measurements Drug‐drug interactions (DDIs), adverse events (AEs), and rates of sustained virologic response with DAA therapy were assessed. Results Sustained virologic response rate was 97.7% in individuals aged 65 to 74 and 95.8% in those aged 75 and older. Individuals aged 75 and older were more likely to be taking more than 2 medications per day for chronic conditions (84% vs 62%, p=.02) and more likely to have clinically significant DDIs necessitating cessation or adjustment of medications before commencement of DAA therapy (80% vs 36%, p=.001). Moreover, individuals aged 75 and older were more likely to experience an AE during therapy (50% vs 26%, p=.03) and were more susceptible to developing anemia secondary to ribavirin (60% vs 20%, p=.02). Conclusion DAA therapy is highly efficacious for the treatment of HCV in older adults, but those aged 75 and older are more likely to have clinically significant pretreatment DDIs and experience AEs, including ribavirin‐induced anemia, during therapy.