Treatment costs of hepatitis C infection among injection drug users in Canada, 2006–2026

Werb, Dan; Wood, Evan; Hershfield, Neil; Palmer, R; Remis, Robert S.

doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2010.09.006

Cited by 16 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 46 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…In IDU and other high risk groups, HCV antibody seropositivity can range from 8.1% to 63.8% [37,38]. Potential interactions with drug cultures have a major impact on the rate of HCV seropositivity as referenced above.…”

Section: Risk Factors For the Acquisition Of Hcv Infectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hepatitis C Virus in American Indian/Alaskan Native and Aboriginal Peoples of North America

Rempel¹,

Uhanova²

2012

Viruses

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Liver diseases, such as hepatitis C virus (HCV), are “broken spirit” diseases. The prevalence of HCV infection for American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) in the United States and Canadian Aboriginals varies; nonetheless, incidence rates of newly diagnosed HCV infection are typically higher relative to non-indigenous people. For AI/AN and Aboriginal peoples risk factors for the diagnosis of HCV can reflect that of the general population: predominately male, a history of injection drug use, in midlife years, with a connection with urban centers. However, the face of the indigenous HCV infected individual is becoming increasingly female and younger compared to non-indigenous counterparts. Epidemiology studies indicate that more effective clearance of acute HCV infection can occur for select Aboriginal populations, a phenomenon which may be linked to unique immune characteristics. For individuals progressing to chronic HCV infection treatment outcomes are comparable to other racial cohorts. Disease progression, however, is propelled by elevated rates of co-morbidities including type 2 diabetes and alcohol use, along with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection relative to non-indigenous patients. Historical and personal trauma has a major role in the participation of high risk behaviors and associated diseases. Although emerging treatments provide hope, combating HCV related morbidity and mortality will require interventions that address the etiology of broken spirit diseases.

show abstract

Section: Risk Factors For the Acquisition Of Hcv Infectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hepatitis C Virus in American Indian/Alaskan Native and Aboriginal Peoples of North America

Rempel¹,

Uhanova²

2012

Viruses

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…With respect to HCV, the most recent costing studies range from CAN$20,000 to CDN$30,000 [40] to more than CDN$69,188 [41], per completed patient course of treatment [42]. In the current analysis, we follow the National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research [43], using CDN$35,143 (2013 Dollars).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A cost-benefit/cost-effectiveness analysis of proposed supervised injection facilities in Ottawa, Canada

Jozaghi

Reid

Andresen

et al. 2014

Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundSupervised injection facilities (SIFs) are venues where people who inject drugs (PWID) have access to a clean and medically supervised environment in which they can safely inject their own illicit drugs. There is currently only one legal SIF in North America: Insite in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The responses and feedback generated by the evaluations of Insite in Vancouver have been overwhelmingly positive. This study assesses whether the above mentioned facility in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver needs to be expanded to other locations, more specifically that of Canada’s capital city, Ottawa.MethodsThe current study is aimed at contributing to the existing literature on health policy by conducting cost-benefit and cost-effective analyses for the opening of SIFs in Ottawa, Ontario. In particular, the costs of operating numerous SIFs in Ottawa was compared to the savings incurred; this was done after accounting for the prevention of new HIV and Hepatitis C (HCV) infections. To ensure accuracy, two distinct mathematical models and a sensitivity analysis were employed.ResultsThe sensitivity analyses conducted with the models reveals the potential for SIFs in Ottawa to be a fiscally responsible harm reduction strategy for the prevention of HCV cases – when considered independently. With a baseline sharing rate of 19%, the cumulative annual cost model supported the establishment of two SIFs and the marginal annual cost model supported the establishment of a single SIF. More often, the prevention of HIV or HCV alone were not sufficient to justify the establishment cost-effectiveness; rather, only when both HIV and HCV are considered does sufficient economic support became apparent.ConclusionsFunded supervised injection facilities in Ottawa appear to be an efficient and effective use of financial resources in the public health domain.

show abstract

“…5,6 While the economic burden related to injection drug use is difficult to determine, the lifetime cost of treating each case of HIV infection is $150,000 and it has been estimated that the cost of treating hepatitis C in injection drug users (IDUs) in Canada between 2006 and 2026 will be $3.96 billion. 7,8 With the sequelae of injection drug use and high-risk sexual activity being so costly and burdensome, the implementation of more effective programs aimed at reducing these problems is a priority.Throughout the literature, community pharmacists are acknowledged as important, underutilized resources in preventing the spread of HIV and other blood-borne infections. Pharmacists are recognized as one of the most accessible health care professionals for the general population and are in an ideal position to reach IDUs, who are often socially marginalized and often wish to maintain anonymity.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Pharmacists and Harm Reduction: A Review of Current Practices and Attitudes

Watson

Hughes

2012

Can Pharm J

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Conclusion:As one of the most accessible health care providers, community pharmacists are in an ideal position to provide meaningful services to injection drug users. However, in order to do so, pharmacists require additional support in the form of better health team and system integration, as well as remuneration models. Can Pharm J 2012;145:124-127.e2. health promotion and traditionally refers to policies or programs that are aimed at decreasing the adverse health, social and economic consequences of high-risk behaviours such as drug and alcohol use. 4 For the purposes of this paper, harm reduction services refer to strategies aimed at minimizing the harmful consequences associated with injection drug use and high-risk sexual activity, which are 2 significant social and health issues. Injection drug use accounts for 17% of new cases of HIV infection and approximately two-thirds of new cases of hepatitis C in Canada. 5,6 While the economic burden related to injection drug use is difficult to determine, the lifetime cost of treating each case of HIV infection is $150,000 and it has been estimated that the cost of treating hepatitis C in injection drug users (IDUs) in Canada between 2006 and 2026 will be $3.96 billion. 7,8 With the sequelae of injection drug use and high-risk sexual activity being so costly and burdensome, the implementation of more effective programs aimed at reducing these problems is a priority.Throughout the literature, community pharmacists are acknowledged as important, underutilized resources in preventing the spread of HIV and other blood-borne infections. Pharmacists are recognized as one of the most accessible health care professionals for the general population and are in an ideal position to reach IDUs, who are often socially marginalized and often wish to maintain anonymity. Potential harm reduction roles for community pharmacists that have been identified include the sale of condoms and other safer-sex products, educating on safe-sex practices, selling clean needles/syringes, providing a site for disposal of used needles and syringes and dispensing oral methadone for the treatment of opiate dependence.The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of pharmacists' involvement in harm reduction services, with a particular focus on research that has evaluated pharmacists' attitudes and barriers toward provision of these services. A review of the literature from 1995 to 2011 was conducted through MEDLINE, PubMed and Scopus using the search terms pharmacist, harm reduction, disease prevention, health promotion, attitudes, competence and barriers. Relevant references of articles identified by the search were also reviewed by both study investigators. To be included in this review, studies had to focus on harm reduction services involving pharmacies, pharmacists' attitudes and identified barriers toward providing such services or both. Articles were excluded if they were not in English or did not meet the above inclusion criteria. Results Current practices in harm reductionOne of t...

show abstract

Treatment costs of hepatitis C infection among injection drug users in Canada, 2006–2026

Cited by 16 publications

References 46 publications

Hepatitis C Virus in American Indian/Alaskan Native and Aboriginal Peoples of North America

Hepatitis C Virus in American Indian/Alaskan Native and Aboriginal Peoples of North America

A cost-benefit/cost-effectiveness analysis of proposed supervised injection facilities in Ottawa, Canada

Pharmacists and Harm Reduction: A Review of Current Practices and Attitudes

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About