title: The estimated future disease burden of hepatitis C virus in the Netherlands with different treatment paradigms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the Netherlands is low (anti-HCV prevalence 0.22%). All-oral treatment with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) is tolerable and effective but expensive. Our analysis projected the future HCV-related disease burden in the Netherlands by applying different treatment scenarios.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a modelling approach, the size of the HCV-viraemic population in the Netherlands in 2014 was estimated using available data and expert consensus. The base scenario (based on the current Dutch situation) and different treatment scenarios (with increased efficacy, treatment uptake, and diagnoses) were modelled and the future HCV disease burden was predicted for each scenario.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The estimated number of individuals with viraemic HCV infection in the Netherlands in 2014 was 19,200 (prevalence 0.12%). By 2030, this number is projected to decrease by 4 5% in the base scenario and by 85% if the number of treated patients increases. Furthermore, the number of individuals with hepatocellular carcinoma and liver-related deaths is estimated to decrease by 19% and 27%, respectively, in the base scenario, but may both be further decreased by 68% when focusing on treatment of HCV patients with a fibrosis stage of ≥ F2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A substantial reduction in HCV-related disease burden is possible with increases in treatment uptake as the efficacy of current therapies is high. Further reduction of HCV-related disease burden may be achieved through increases in diagnosis and preventative measures. These results might inform the further development of effective disease management strategies in the Netherlands.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Willemse
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Razavi-Shearer
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Zuure
authors.forename: I K
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Veldhuijzen
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Croes
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: van der Meer
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: van Santen
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: de Vree
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: de Knegt
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Zaaijer
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Reesink
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prins
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Razavi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D009426:Netherlands; D015995:Prevalence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents