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The Burden of Untreated Hepatitis C Virus Infection: A US Patients’ Perspective

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Abstract

Background

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is widespread and associated with high economic costs and reduced quality of life, but the impact of untreated HCV infection on patient outcome is not well understood.

Aims

To estimate the impact of untreated HCV infection on work productivity, daily activity, healthcare use, economic costs, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Methods

Respondents to the 2010 US National Health and Wellness Survey (n = 75,000) reporting physician diagnosis of HCV infection but not current or previous treatment (patients) were matched to respondents without HCV infection (controls) by use of propensity scores. Those reporting infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were excluded. Self-reported work impairment, activity impairment, healthcare resource use, and HRQoL were compared between patients and controls. Indirect and direct costs were estimated.

Results

A total of 306 patients met inclusion criteria. Patients were more impaired at work than controls, with overall work impairment of 26 % versus 15 %, respectively (P < 0.001), mostly because of presenteeism in both groups. Annual productivity losses were estimated at $10,316 per employed patient compared with $5,469 per control (P < 0.001). Patients used more healthcare, with all-cause healthcare costs estimated at $22,818 per patient annually, compared with $15,362 per control (P < 0.001). HRQoL and activity impairment were also worse among patients than controls.

Conclusions

Untreated HCV infection is associated with substantial economic costs to society, through loss of productivity and increased use of healthcare resources, and with impaired well-being of the patient.

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Acknowledgments

This analysis was conducted by Kantar Health and was funded by Merck and Co.

Conflict of interest

AEK was an employee of Merck and Co. at the time the study was conducted, JV is an employee of Kantar Health, and GP works for Merck and Co. as a contractor.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Merck & Co., Inc., WP 97-A423, 770 Sumneytown Pike, West Point, PA, 19486, USA

    Antoine C. El Khoury

  2. Kantar Health, One Independence Way, Suite 220, Princeton, NJ, 08540, USA

    Jeffrey Vietri

  3. AllSource PPS, 16371 Beach Blvd, Suite 221, Huntington Beach, CA, 92647, USA

    Girish Prajapati

Authors
  1. Antoine C. El Khoury
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  2. Jeffrey Vietri
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  3. Girish Prajapati
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Correspondence to Antoine C. El Khoury.

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El Khoury, A.C., Vietri, J. & Prajapati, G. The Burden of Untreated Hepatitis C Virus Infection: A US Patients’ Perspective. Dig Dis Sci 57, 2995–3003 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-012-2233-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-012-2233-1

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