title: A Systematic Review of Race and Ethnicity in Hepatitis C Clinical Trial Enrollment.
abstract: The African American/Black population in the United States (US) is disproportionately affected by hepatitis C virus (HCV) and has lower response rates to current treatments. This analysis evaluates the participation of African American/Blacks in North American and European HCV clinical trials. The data source for this analysis was the PubMed database. Randomized controlled clinical trials (RCT) on HCV treatment with interferon 2a or 2b between January 2000 and December 2011 were reviewed. Inclusion criteria included English language and participants 18 years or older with chronic HCV. Exclusion criteria included non-randomized trials, case reports, cohort studies, ethnic specific studies, or studies not using interferon-alfa or PEG-interferon. Of the 588 trials identified, 314 (53.4%) fit inclusion criteria. The main outcome was the rate of African American/ Black participation in North American HCV clinical trials. A meta-analysis comparing the expected and observed rates was performed. Of the RCT's that met search criteria, 123 (39.2%) reported race. Clinical trials in North America were more likely to report racial data than European trials. Racial reporting increased over time. There was a statistically significant difference among the expected and observed participation of African Americans in HCV clinical trials in North America based on the prevalence of this disease within the population. The burden of HCV among African Americans in North America is not reflected in those clinical trials designed to treat HCV. Research on minority participation in clinical trials and how to increase minority participation in clinical trials is needed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Duke University School of Medicine, Duke Clinical Research Institute. Electronic address: julius.wilder@duke.edu.
authors.forename: Julius
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wilder
authors.affiliation: Trinity College of Arts and Sciences, Duke University.
authors.forename: Anirudh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saraswathula
authors.affiliation: Duke Clinical Research Institute.
authors.forename: Vic
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hasselblad
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Duke University School of Medicine, Duke Clinical Research Institute.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muir
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D009656:North America; D010358:Patient Participation; D011788:Quality of Life; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012254:Ribavirin
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012254:Ribavirin
keywords: African American/Black; Clinical Trial; Hepatitis C