Impact of Drug Use Policy on the Appropriate Use of Direct Acting Antiviral Agents for Hepatitis C in Saudi Arabia

Alotaibi, Ahmed Saqer; Shamas, Nour; Ansari, Umair; Sanai, Faisal M; Alshahrani, Ali; Fathelrahman, Ahmed Ibrahim; Aseeri, Mohammed

doi:10.4103/jpbs.jpbs_166_21

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…The decline in HCV cases in Saudi Arabia can be attributed to various factors, including government initiatives, mandatory screening of blood donors, pre-marital testing, and the availability of direct-acting antiviral treatments. These interventions have contributed to the reduction in HCV transmission and improved health outcomes for individuals infected with the virus [25][26][27][28].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemiological Perspectives: A Four-Year Insight Into Hepatitis C Surveillance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Almajid,

Albarbari,

Bazroon

et al. 2024

Cureus

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Introduction Hepatitis C is a viral disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV), a member of the Flaviviridae family. This compact, enveloped RNA virus possesses a positive single-stranded genome and can be transmitted through various means, including blood exposure, sexual contact, and vertical transmission. The disease is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, imposing substantial costs on the healthcare system. In Saudi Arabia, HCV is a notifiable disease; however, there is a scarcity of recent reports on HCV trends in the country. This study aims to provide updated insights into the infection patterns of HCV across demographics, regions, and genders in Saudi Arabia. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted to investigate the epidemiological trends of HCV infection in Saudi Arabia. Data were obtained from the Saudi Ministry of Health (MOH), encompassing the timeframe from 2019 to 2022. A descriptive analysis of HCV infection, organized by year, age group, and gender, was conducted using the data reported to the MOH. Results Between 2019 and 2022, there was a significant decrease of 56.9% in the overall rate of hepatitis C cases in Saudi Arabia. The rate dropped from 9.94 to 4.29 cases per 100,000 people during this period. Males consistently had higher reported cases compared to females, although there was a notable decline in cases for both genders from 2019 to 2022. The highest incidence of HCV was found in individuals aged 45 years and above. However, there was a decline in cases among this age group, with the number dropping from 2,195 cases in 2019 to 946 cases in 2022. In terms of regional variations, Riyadh, Makkah, Jeddah, Alsharqiya, and Taif had the highest incidence of HCV cases. Some regions experienced an increase in cases between 2021 and 2022, particularly Jeddah, Taif, and Al-Ahsaa. Conclusion This study reveals a significant reduction in reported HCV cases in Saudi Arabia from 2019 to 2022. However, gender disparities persist, with males having a higher number of reported cases. There is also a notable decline in HCV cases among children and adolescents, which can be attributed to preventive measures. The findings emphasize the importance of region-specific strategies, as certain areas, such as Riyadh, Makkah, Jeddah, Alsharqiya, and Taif, continue to have a high number of reported cases. Proactive measures, surveillance, and public awareness campaigns remain crucial in addressing HCV as a significant public health challenge in the Kingdom.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemiological Perspectives: A Four-Year Insight Into Hepatitis C Surveillance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Almajid,

Albarbari,

Bazroon

et al. 2024

Cureus

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“…HCV cases with cirrhosis have a 0-3% risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) [ 8 ]. The national HCV policy for the use of direct-acting antivirals (DAAS) was established in the year 2015 by the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs in Saudi Arabia [ 9 ]. However, MOH is leading the elimination project, by implementing treatment guidelines, protocols, and screening policy, as well as control and supervision of the process and outcomes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effectiveness and Safety of Direct-Acting Antivirals in the Treatment of Hepatitis C Virus in Saudi Arabia: A Nationwide Study Based on the Saudi Ministry of Health Surveillance Data From 2017 to 2021

AL-Ahmari,

Alotaibi,

Aljasser

et al. 2023

Cureus

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Background and objective While the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has had a hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination program in place since 2015, there have been limited studies investigating the effectiveness and safety of direct-acting antivirals (DAAS) based on the Ministry of Health (MOH) surveillance data. In light of this, this study was conducted to assess the effectiveness and safety of DAAS (glecaprevir/pibrentasvir, daclatasvir/sofosbuvir, or other combinations) in treating HCV cases in Saudi Arabia as per the MOH data from 2017 to 2021. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study involving recorded HCV cases in the national hepatitis surveillance database of MOH across all regions of KSA from 2017 to 2021. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics software (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Continuous variables were expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD), and categorical variables were presented as numbers (percentages). An independent t-test was used for continuous variables, and a Chi-square analysis was used for categorical variables. A confidence interval of 95%, a margin of error of 0.05, a precision of 2%, and a 5% level of significance were employed. Results Regarding demographic characteristics, age was significantly associated with HCV infection (p=0.002). Similarly, nationality had a highly significant association with HCV infection (p=0.004). Regarding clinical characteristics, creatinine levels were significantly associated with HCV infection (p=0.009). As for effectiveness, all participants had a positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for HCV at enrolment (n=4806) and were DAAS-naïve. After the completion of the first DAAS course, 99.5% (4781) had negative PCRs 12 weeks post-treatment completion; however, the PCR remained positive for some patients (0.5%, n=25), which became negative after receiving the second DAAS course, resulting in complete cure of HCV infection and a 100% negative PCR among all participants. With regard to safety, no side effects were recorded in the cohort and hence the safety aspect was not analyzed. Conclusion Univariate analysis revealed that nationality (non-Saudi), age, and creatinine levels were significantly associated with HCV infection. However, only nationality showed a significant association with HCV infection following multivariate logistic regression adjustment. We believe that these insights will help guide the creation of clinical guidelines and promote evidence-based decision-making in the management of HCV in Saudi Arabia.

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Impact of Drug Use Policy on the Appropriate Use of Direct Acting Antiviral Agents for Hepatitis C in Saudi Arabia

Cited by 2 publications

References 26 publications

Epidemiological Perspectives: A Four-Year Insight Into Hepatitis C Surveillance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Epidemiological Perspectives: A Four-Year Insight Into Hepatitis C Surveillance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

The Effectiveness and Safety of Direct-Acting Antivirals in the Treatment of Hepatitis C Virus in Saudi Arabia: A Nationwide Study Based on the Saudi Ministry of Health Surveillance Data From 2017 to 2021

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