The changing characteristics of patients with chronic hepatitis C prescribed direct acting antiviral medicines in general practice since listing of the medicines on the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
Abstract Background and Aim The primary objective of this study was to determine whether the characteristics of patients prescribed direct acting antiviral (DAA) medicines have changed since initial listing of the medicines on the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Methods A cross‐sect...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2021-07-01
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| Series: | JGH Open |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/jgh3.12593 |
| _version_ | 1819130234783399936 |
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| author | Doreen Busingye Kendal Chidwick Vanessa Simpson Jonathan Dartnell Gregory JDore Anne Balcomb Suzanne Blogg |
| author_facet | Doreen Busingye Kendal Chidwick Vanessa Simpson Jonathan Dartnell Gregory JDore Anne Balcomb Suzanne Blogg |
| author_sort | Doreen Busingye |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background and Aim The primary objective of this study was to determine whether the characteristics of patients prescribed direct acting antiviral (DAA) medicines have changed since initial listing of the medicines on the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Methods A cross‐sectional study was conducted using data from MedicineInsight, an Australian database of general practice electronic health records, from March 2016 to August 2018. We compared sociodemographic, comorbidity, and clinical characteristics of patients aged at least 18 years who were prescribed at least one DAA in the first 4 months of PBS listing in 2016 with those prescribed at least one DAA in 2018. Results There were 2251 eligible adult patients prescribed a DAA during the study period, 62% were men and 59% were aged 50 years and older. Patients prescribed DAA medicines initially were older (aged ≥50 years: 67.9% vs 49.3%; P < 0.001), and more likely to have liver cirrhosis (14.2% vs 8.4%; P = 0.01) and an aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI) score >1 (20.4% vs 8.9%; P < 0.001) than those prescribed DAA medicines in 2018. A greater proportion of patients in regional/remote (46.5% vs 35.6%; P < 0.001) and socioeconomically disadvantaged areas (44.4% vs 34.5%; P = 0.003) accessed treatment in 2018 compared with 2016. Conclusions Despite evidence of decreasing uptake of DAA medicines across Australia, this study indicates broadened uptake among younger age groups and those residing in regional/remote and socioeconomically disadvantaged areas since 2016. While uptake of DAA medicines in some population subgroups appears to have improved, continuous efforts to improve uptake across the Australian population are essential. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T08:56:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9d7e738b52ea456fad8e666290b1bae5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2397-9070 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T08:56:23Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JGH Open |
| spelling | doaj.art-9d7e738b52ea456fad8e666290b1bae52022-12-21T18:31:50ZengWileyJGH Open2397-90702021-07-015781381910.1002/jgh3.12593The changing characteristics of patients with chronic hepatitis C prescribed direct acting antiviral medicines in general practice since listing of the medicines on the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits SchemeDoreen Busingye0Kendal Chidwick1Vanessa Simpson2Jonathan Dartnell3Gregory JDore4Anne Balcomb5Suzanne Blogg6NPS MedicineWise Sydney New South Wales AustraliaNPS MedicineWise Sydney New South Wales AustraliaNPS MedicineWise Sydney New South Wales AustraliaNPS MedicineWise Sydney New South Wales AustraliaThe Kirby Institute University of New South Wales Sydney Sydney New South Wales AustraliaPrince Street Medical Practice Orange New South Wales AustraliaNPS MedicineWise Sydney New South Wales AustraliaAbstract Background and Aim The primary objective of this study was to determine whether the characteristics of patients prescribed direct acting antiviral (DAA) medicines have changed since initial listing of the medicines on the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Methods A cross‐sectional study was conducted using data from MedicineInsight, an Australian database of general practice electronic health records, from March 2016 to August 2018. We compared sociodemographic, comorbidity, and clinical characteristics of patients aged at least 18 years who were prescribed at least one DAA in the first 4 months of PBS listing in 2016 with those prescribed at least one DAA in 2018. Results There were 2251 eligible adult patients prescribed a DAA during the study period, 62% were men and 59% were aged 50 years and older. Patients prescribed DAA medicines initially were older (aged ≥50 years: 67.9% vs 49.3%; P < 0.001), and more likely to have liver cirrhosis (14.2% vs 8.4%; P = 0.01) and an aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI) score >1 (20.4% vs 8.9%; P < 0.001) than those prescribed DAA medicines in 2018. A greater proportion of patients in regional/remote (46.5% vs 35.6%; P < 0.001) and socioeconomically disadvantaged areas (44.4% vs 34.5%; P = 0.003) accessed treatment in 2018 compared with 2016. Conclusions Despite evidence of decreasing uptake of DAA medicines across Australia, this study indicates broadened uptake among younger age groups and those residing in regional/remote and socioeconomically disadvantaged areas since 2016. While uptake of DAA medicines in some population subgroups appears to have improved, continuous efforts to improve uptake across the Australian population are essential.https://doi.org/10.1002/jgh3.12593direct acting antiviralgeneral practicehepatitis Cpatient characteristicsprescribing |
| spellingShingle | Doreen Busingye Kendal Chidwick Vanessa Simpson Jonathan Dartnell Gregory JDore Anne Balcomb Suzanne Blogg The changing characteristics of patients with chronic hepatitis C prescribed direct acting antiviral medicines in general practice since listing of the medicines on the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme JGH Open direct acting antiviral general practice hepatitis C patient characteristics prescribing |
| title | The changing characteristics of patients with chronic hepatitis C prescribed direct acting antiviral medicines in general practice since listing of the medicines on the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme |
| title_full | The changing characteristics of patients with chronic hepatitis C prescribed direct acting antiviral medicines in general practice since listing of the medicines on the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme |
| title_fullStr | The changing characteristics of patients with chronic hepatitis C prescribed direct acting antiviral medicines in general practice since listing of the medicines on the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme |
| title_full_unstemmed | The changing characteristics of patients with chronic hepatitis C prescribed direct acting antiviral medicines in general practice since listing of the medicines on the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme |
| title_short | The changing characteristics of patients with chronic hepatitis C prescribed direct acting antiviral medicines in general practice since listing of the medicines on the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme |
| title_sort | changing characteristics of patients with chronic hepatitis c prescribed direct acting antiviral medicines in general practice since listing of the medicines on the australian pharmaceutical benefits scheme |
| topic | direct acting antiviral general practice hepatitis C patient characteristics prescribing |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/jgh3.12593 |
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