Treatment costs of hepatitis C infection among injection drug users in Canada, 2006-2026.
BACKGROUND
Canadian injection drug users (IDUs) are at high risk of hepatitis C virus infection (HCV). However, little is known about the costs associated with their HCV-related medical treatment. We estimated the medical costs of treating HCV-infected IDUs from 2006 to 2026.


METHODS
We employed a Markov model of entry through birth or immigration to exposure-related behaviours or experiences, HCV infection, progression to HCV sequelae and mortality for active and ex-IDUs in Canada. We estimated direct and indirect treatment costs using data from the Ontario Case Costing Initiative (OCCI).


RESULTS
Approximately 137,000 IDUs will suffer from HCV-related disease each year until 2026. Applying the OCCI cost data to the prevalence of HCV-related disease from 2006 to 2026 yielded an estimated cost of $3.96 billion CND to treat HCV-infected IDUs.


CONCLUSIONS
Substantial costs are associated with the treatment of HCV-related disease among Canadian IDUs. Given the lack of effective HCV prevention strategies in Canada, we must develop targeted evidence-based responses to prevent HCV transmission and ensure appropriate allocation of medical resources to meet the present and future treatment needs of HCV-infected IDUs.
British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Daniel
D
Werb
Evan
E
Wood
Thomas
T
Kerr
Neil
N
Hershfield
Robert W H
RW
Palmer
Robert S
RS
Remis
D002170:Canada; D055030:Drug Users; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics*; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D008390:Markov Chains; D012306:Risk; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology