title: Treatment rate and factors related to interferon-based treatment initiation for chronic hepatitis C in South Korea.
abstract: Under-recognition and under-treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is an important determinant of the disease outcome. The aim of this study was to investigate the treatment rate and factor of initiation of interferon-based antiviral treatment for chronic hepatitis C patients in a prospective, multicenter Korean HCV cohort. Treatment-naïve 759 patients with chronic HCV infection were prospectively followed from January 2007-2013 at six university hospitals during a median (interquartile range) follow-up of 769 (76-1,427) days. The subjects consisted of patients with chronic hepatitis C (n = 553, 72.9%), liver cirrhosis (n = 127, 16.7%), and hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 79, 10.4%), and were treated usually using pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin. Treatment initiation rate and its related factors were analysed. The initiation rate of antiviral treatment was 37.3% (n = 273), and the cumulative probability of treatment initiation over 5 years was 39.4%. Multivariate analysis showed that age <58 years (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.588, 95% CI = 1.151-2.193), job employment (HR = 1.737, 95% CI = 1.279-2.363), absence of HCC (chronic hepatitis, HR = 2.534, 95% CI = 1.003-6.400; liver cirrhosis, HR = 2.873, 95% CI = 1.101-7.494), alanine transaminase (ALT) >40 IU/L (HR = 1.682, 95% CI = 1.228-2.303), and genotype 2 (HR = 1.364, 95% CI = 1.034-1.798) were independent factors related to treatment initiation. Interferon-based antiviral treatment was initiated in more than one third of chronic HCV infected patients visiting university hospitals, who were young, employed, HCV genotype 2, and with abnormal ALT without HCC, in Korea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Soo
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sook-Hyang
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Sun
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Bucheon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young Seok
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Youn Jae
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Uk
authors.initials: EU
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chonbuk National University Hopital, Chonbuk National University College of Medicine, Chonju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: In Hee
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea Seoul Saint Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Si Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Han Chu
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012254:Ribavirin
keywords: antiviral treatment; cohort study; hepatitis C virus; pegylated interferon alpha; ribavirin