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标题：Feasibility and Outcome of HCV Treatment in a Canadian Federal Prison Population
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作者：John Farley ; Shawn Vasdev ; Benedikt Fischer 等
期刊名称：American journal of public health
印刷版ISSN：0090-0036
出版年度：2005
卷号：95
期号：10
页码：1737-1739
DOI：10.2105/AJPH.2004.056150
语种：English
出版社：American Public Health Association
摘要：We assessed feasibility and outcome of hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment in male correctional inmates in British Columbia, Canada. We reviewed the medical charts of 114 treated inmates; 80 had complete data for treatment outcome. Approximately 4 of 5 inmates completed treatment (78.8%); 66.3% achieved sustained virological response. Those who completed treatment, those with injection drug use as a risk factor, and those with genotypes 2 and 3 were significantly more likely to achieve sustained virological response. HCV treatment in correctional inmates is feasible and effective. The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Canadian (federal and provincial) correctional populations is extremely high and has been reported to range from 23% to 87%. 1 ^– 3 These rates are similar to those found in correctional populations in other Western countries. 4 ^, 5 HCV in these countries now is transmitted primarily via injection drug use, 6 which means that infections are concentrated mainly within the marginalized drug user populations, who frequently enter into correctional facilities. 7 ^, 8 Despite the potential health burden consequences, HCV screening and treatment efforts in Canadian federal correctional facilities are limited. Testing for HCV occurs voluntarily and in only about one quarter of new admissions; initiation of HCV treatment is sporadic. 1 Until recently, HCV treatment generally has been withheld from illicit drug users—regardless of incarceration status—primarily because of length of treatment, likelihood of adherence, psychiatric side effects, and risk of reinfection. 9 ^– 11 However, 2 (small) observational studies of HCV treatment in correctional populations in the United States reported relatively high treatment success rates. 12 ^, 13 On the basis of these reports, the controlled environment of federal prisons, specifically—where sentences served are at least 2 years—may provide a unique opportunity for HCV treatment and prevention. We examined HCV treatment outcomes in a Canadian federal prison population, adding our analysis to the very limited (international) literature on this topic.