JAMA: Early Treatment with Antivirals Effective in Children with Hepatitis C

A recent study published in the Journal of American Medical Association unveiled a promising findings regarding the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of early treatment for children with perinatally acquired hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the United States.

This study looks into the pressing need for interventions as HCV transmission from mother to child which continues to pose a significant health concern by affecting approximately 7% to 8% of births. With the recent approval of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy for children aged three years and older, Megan Rose Curtis and team evaluated the clinical and economic impacts of initiating treatment at various ages.

After utilizing a sophisticated state-transition model, this research projected outcomes for a cohort of 1000 children with perinatally acquired HCV from the age of three years until death. By offering DAA therapy at ages three, six, twelve, and eighteen years along with a scenario of never treating HCV, this research examined life expectancy, healthcare costs and clinical outcomes including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

The results revealed that treating HCV at the age of three years was linked with significantly lower lifetime per-person healthcare costs with projected life expectancy also being longest when treatment was initiated early when compared to delaying treatment until later ages. Early treatment at three years old was estimated to prevent numerous cases of cirrhosis, HCC and liver-related deaths when compared to delaying treatment until six years old. 

Early DAA therapy offer substantial clinical benefits and additionally it also presents a cost-effective approach that could potentially save healthcare resources and improve overall population health. In conclusion, the study highlights the importance of expanding access to DAA therapy for young children with HCV that emphasizes the need for policy measures ensuring timely and equitable treatment.

Reference:

Curtis, M. R., Epstein, R. L., Pei, P., Linas, B. P., & Ciaranello, A. L. (2024). Cost-Effectiveness of Strategies for Treatment Timing for Perinatally Acquired Hepatitis C Virus. In JAMA Pediatrics. American Medical Association (AMA). https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2024.0114