Impact of a Pharmacist-Led HCV Treatment Program at a Federally Qualified Health Center

Authors

Jerika T. Lam, Chapman UniversityFollow
Sharon Xavioer, Chapman UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-24-2024

Abstract

Pharmacists are key players who can help to eliminate the hepatitis C virus (HCV) epidemic in the United States. This pilot retrospective study evaluated the impact of a pharmacist-led HCV treatment program in a federally qualified health center (FQHC) primary care clinic setting. The primary outcome was to assess sustained virologic response (SVR) rates 12 weeks after patients were initiated and completed their oral direct acting antiviral (DAA) treatment regimens. Methods: This pilot retrospective study included historical analyses of patients who received DAA treatment in the pharmacist-led HCV treatment program in a FQHC clinic between 1 January 2019 and 31 January 2021. SVR was the primary outcome measure for treatment response. Results: Sixty-seven patients with HCV mono- and HIV co-infection were referred, and 59 patients were initiated on DAA regimens after treatment. Fifty of those who were started on DAA regimens completed their treatment, and 38 achieved SVR (modified intention to treat [mITT] SVR rate of 76%). Conclusion: Our study’s findings demonstrated SVR rates that were comparable with other pharmacist-directed HCV treatment services in the United States despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our study included a higher proportion of individuals with HCV/HIV co-infection and of Hispanic ethnicity.

Comments

This article was originally published in Pharmacy, volume 12, issue 4, in 2024. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmacy12040115

This scholarship is part of the Chapman University COVID-19 Archives.

Recommended Citation

Lam, J.T.; Xavioer, S. Impact of a Pharmacist-Led HCV Treatment Program at a Federally Qualified Health Center. Pharmacy 2024, 12, 115. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmacy12040115

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.