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Management of Chronic HCV Infection by PMDs. Rod Rahimi Osler Journal Club 1-25-12. Outline. Background on Hepatitis C Barriers to treatment ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) model Cohort trial: PMD v. Specialists Conclusions Time for questions/discussion. Hepatitis C.
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Management of Chronic HCV Infection by PMDs Rod Rahimi Osler Journal Club 1-25-12
Outline • Background on Hepatitis C • Barriers to treatment • ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) model • Cohort trial: PMD v. Specialists • Conclusions • Time for questions/discussion
Hepatitis C • 170 million people worldwide (3%) are hepatitis C positive (3.2 million in the US) cdc.gov
Hepatitis C treatment • Pegylated interferon and ribavirin are available and cost-effective • HCV genotype 1 cure rate 45% • HCV genotype 2 and 3 cure rate 75%
Are patients receiving treatment? • Antiviral treatment rates are <30% • Even among eligible patients treatment rates range from only 45-75% • Rates even lower in rural areas and prisons • In New Mexico, 40% of the 6000 inmates are infected with HCV. As of 2003 not a single one had received antiviral treatment
Barriers to Treatment • Treatment is currently complex • Most PMDs lack training • Complex side effects from treatment including flu-like symptoms, cytopenias, hemolysis, autoimmunity, depression • In New Mexico, patients had to travel up to 250 miles to the UNM medical center, having to make an average of 18 trips during treatment
The University of New Mexico • The ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) Model • http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2lBfyOlL4_s
Conclusions • PMDs treating HCV infection with assistance of the ECHO model are as effective in achieving SVR as specialists • No difference in serious adverse events between PMDs and specialists
Critical Appraisal Discussion • What comparison is being made? • Does the comparison make clinical sense? • What are the potential selection biases?
Critical Appraisal Discussion • No comparison group comprising patients treated by PMDs without ECHO • No PMDs treating HCV independently • Unethical to randomize PMDs to treating HCV without ECHO • The study was not large enough to establish equivalence between PMDs with ECHO and specialists
Telemedicine Discussion • Advantages • Increase clinical knowledge among PMDs • Increase clinical access to specialist treatments • Cost-effective • Disadvantages • Delay referrals • Potentially demanding on specialists • Potential for adverse events
References • Arora et al. Outcomes of Treatment for Hepatitis C Virus Infection by Primary Care Providers. N Engl J Med. 2011 June 9;364(23):2199-2207. • Fried et al. Peginterferon alfa-2a plus ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C virus infection. N Engl J Med. 2002 Sep 26;347(13):975-82. • Swain et al. A sustained virologic response is durable in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin. Gastroenterology. 2010 Nov;139(5):1593-601. • Kanwal et al. Predictors of treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection - role of patient versus nonpatient factors. Hepatology 2007 Dec;46(6):1741-9.