3 research outputs found
Survival of patients with HCV cirrhosis and sustained virologic response is similar to the general population.
Background & Aims: Life expectancy of patients with compensated hepatitis C virus (HCV) cirrhosis achieving sustained virologic response (SVR) is limited by liver events as compared to
the general population. Thus, survival benefit of SVR remains to
be measured.
Methods: The study includes prospective surveillance data from
three cohorts of Italian patients with compensated HCV cirrhosis
who achieved SVR on an interferon-based (IFN) regimen, compared to simultaneously observed non-SVR, untreated and
decompensated patients. Overall survival was calculated from
the date of start of IFN to death. The number of deaths expected
during the at-risk period was determined by applying age- and
sex-specific mortality rates recorded in Italy for person-years
adequate for the enrolment period. The standardized mortality
ratio (SMR) determined the relative risk of death over that of
the age and sex matched general population.
Results: Overall, 28/181 patients followed-up for a median
period of 9.6 years (range 1–25 years) died. The 10 and 20-year
overall survival rates for the whole series were 90.9% (95% CI,
84.3–94.8) and 62.9% (95% CI, 45.9–75.9), respectively. The number of expected deaths in the corresponding age and sex matched
general population was 28.1, corresponding to a SMR = 1.00 (95%
CI, 0.72–1.35), with an SMR for non-SVR patients of 3.85 (95% CI,
3.43–4.30), for untreated of 3.01 (95% CI, 2.64–3.42) and for
decompensated of 6.70 (95% CI, 5.39–8.22).
Conclusions: Patients with compensated HCV cirrhosis achieving
SVR by IFN obtain a main benefit levelling their survival curve to
that of the general population. Wider applicability of IFN-free regimens will possibly make this achievement more generalizable
Characteristics of HCV positive subjects referring to hospitals in Italy: a multicentre prevalence study on 6,999 cases
In 2001, 6 999 anti-HCV positive subjects referred to 79 Italian hospital in a 6 months enrolment period were evaluated. Of them, 5 632 (80.5%) tested anti-HCV positive alone, 1 163 (16.6%) reported also an excessive alcohol intake, and 204 (2.9%) were also HBsAg positive. Normal biochemistry was observed in 7.8% of cases, chronic hepatitis in 67.9% of cases, liver cirrhosis in 18.9% of cases, and hepatocellular carcinoma in 3.6% cases. HCV positive subjects with excessive alcohol intake were statistically significantly younger, of male sex, and having more severe liver disease than those without excessive alcohol intake. Adjusting for the confounding effect of age and sex by multiple logistic regression analysis, HCV positive chronic hepatitis cases drinking more than four alcoholic drinks daily were 2.2-fold (CI 95% = 1.3-4.0) more likely to progress to liver cirrhosis than teetotallers. These findings indicate that nearly a quarter of HCV positive subjects referred to hospitals in Italy have a severe liver disease causing a remarkable impact on the national health system. Excessive alcohol intake in HCV chronic hepatitis cases increases the risk of progression to liver cirrhosis. © 2005 Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Characteristics of HCV positive subjects referring to hospitals in Italy: A multicentre prevalence study on 6 999 cases
In 2001, 6 999 anti-HCV positive subjects referred to 79 Italian hospital in a 6 months enrolment period were evaluated. Of them, 5 632 (80.5%) tested anti-HCV positive alone, 1 163 (16.6%) reported also an excessive alcohol intake, and 204 (2.9%) were also HBsAg positive. Normal biochemistry was observed in 7.8% of cases, chronic hepatitis in 67.9% of cases, liver cirrhosis in 18.9% of cases, and hepatocellular carcinoma in 3.6% cases. HCV positive subjects with excessive alcohol intake were statistically significantly younger, of male sex, and having more severe liver disease than those without excessive alcohol intake. Adjusting for the confounding effect of age and sex by multiple logistic regression analysis, HCV positive chronic hepatitis cases drinking more than four alcoholic drinks daily were 2.2-fold (CI 95% = 1.3-4.0) more likely to progress to liver cirrhosis than teetotallers. These findings indicate that nearly a quarter of HCV positive subjects referred to hospitals in Italy have a severe liver disease causing a remarkable impact on the national health system. Excessive alcohol intake in HCV chronic hepatitis cases increases the risk of progression to liver cirrhosis. © 2005 Blackwell Publishing Ltd