title: Improved hepatitis C treatment response in younger patients: findings from the UK HCV National Register cohort study.
abstract: In a cohort of 272 treatment-naive individuals with chronic hepatitis C infection acquired on a known date who were enrolled in the UK HCV National Register, a progressive improvement in response to treatment was found with the evolution of antiviral therapies from 20% (25/122) for interferon monotherapy to 63% (55/88) for pegylated interferon+ribavirin therapy. Multivariable analysis results showed increasing age to be associated with poorer response to therapy [odds ratio (OR) 0·84, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0·72-0·99, P=0·03] whereas time since infection was not associated with response (OR 0·93, 95% CI 0·44-1·98, P=0·85). Other factors significantly associated with a positive response were non-type 1 genotype (P<0·0001) and combination therapies (P<0·0001). During the first two decades of chronic HCV infection, treatment at a younger age was found to be more influential in achieving a sustained viral response than treating earlier in the course of infection.
authors: Immunisation, Hepatitis and Blood Safety Department, Health Protection Services Colindale, Health Protection Agency, 61 Colindale Ave., London, UK. helen.harris@hpa.org.uk
authors: H E
authors: HE
authors: Harris
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Costella
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Amirthalingam
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Alexander
authors: M E B
authors: ME
authors: Ramsay
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Andrews
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012254:Ribavirin; D007372:Interferons