Source: HCV Action e-Update.

A study published in The Lancet earlier this month has found that direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatments for hepatitis C are associated with a reduced risk of mortality and liver cancer. The findings contrast with the controversial Cochrane Review into DAAs, published in September 2017, which cast doubt on the clinical effectiveness of DAAs.

The Lancet set up an observational study of around 10,000 patients. Three quarters of these patients had been treated with DAAs at follow-up, and a quarter were untreated. Patients who had received treatment had a significantly decreased incidence of death or hepatocellular carcinoma than those who had not received treatment. The study found that patients who had received treatment were 52% less likely to die prematurely and 33% less likely to have developed hepatocellular carcinoma. Risk of decompensated cirrhosis was similar in both groups of patients.

Estimated adjusted risk of death at one year in untreated patients was 84 deaths per 10,000 patients, comapred with 40 per 10,000 in treated patients. The estimated adjusted risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma within a year in untreated patients was 129 cases per 10,000 patients, versus 86 per 10,000 in patients who had received treatment.

for more information please view the full study on The Lancet website