title: Factors associated with access to antiviral treatment in a multicentre cross-sectional study of patients with chronic hepatitis B in Italy.
abstract: A multicentre cross-sectional survey was performed to provide an accurate picture of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) cared for by Italian Infectious Diseases Centers (IDCs). This analysis describes factors associated with access to the treatment of CHB in a country where barriers to treatment are not expected to exist because of comprehensive coverage under the National Health System (NHS). The study was performed in 74 IDCs. The analysis focused on 3305 patients with CHB of 3760 HBsAg-positive patients enrolled from March to September, 2008. To account for missing values, a Multiple Imputation method was used. Treatment was reported in 2091 (63.3%) patients. In the multivariate analysis, an increased chance of getting treatment was independently associated with 10 years increase of age at diagnosis (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1-1.3, P < 0.001), HBeAg positivity (aOR 1.8, 95% CI 1.1-2.8, P < 0.001), cirrhosis (aOR 3.6, 95% CI 2-6.3, P = 0.012), HDV (aOR 1.6, 95% CI 1.02-2.5, P = 0.042) and HIV positivity (aOR 6.5, 95% CI 4-10.8, P < 0.001). Conversely, a decreased chance was associated with female gender (aOR 0.6, 95% CI 0.5-0.7, P < 0.001), immigration (aOR 0.6, 95% CI 0.5-0.9, P = 0.009), alcohol consumption (aOR 0.7, 95% CI 0.5-0.98, P = 0.04) and HCV positivity (aOR 0.5, 95% CI 0.3-0.8, P = 0.005). Our study shows that Italian IDCs treat a high percentage of patients with CHB. Nevertheless, disparities exist which are not related to the severity of disease limiting access to antiviral therapy of CHB, even in a country with a universal healthcare system.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Infectious Diseases L. Spallanzani, Rome, Italy. giorgio.antonucci@fastwebnet.it
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Antonucci
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mazzotta
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Puoti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Angeletti
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Girardi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Santantonio
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ambu
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Gaeta
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Colucci
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Angarano
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Marino
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rinaldi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bellissima
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Armignacco
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carosi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sagnelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents