Patients with Hepatitis C on Direct-Acting Antiviral Agents' Response to the Elimination Program in Dammam City within 2018-2020

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a worldwide health challenge that imposes urgent interventions for prevention and control. We aimed to assess the response rate for the direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) regimen in HCV-infected patients attending the public health centers/hospitals in the Western region of Saudi Arabia. Methods and Results: A retrospective study was followed, including data from the electronic medical records of HCV-infected adult patients in the period 2018-2020. Patients underwent HCV health education and treatment with DAAs according to the regional protocols. The type of treatment regimens provided to the included patients was recorded with the outcome (respondent vs. non -respondent) after 12 weeks post completion of treatment (SVR12) based on negative results (or less than the minimum detection levels using the specified assay) of HCV-RNA detected by polymerase chain reaction. The SVR12 was used for predicting SVR as it was reported to be applicable as SVR24. All cases with discontinuations, treatment modifications, and/or deaths were excluded. Included were a total of 505 adult patients recorded in 13 primary healthcare units and hepatitis treatment specialty clinics of hospitals in the Eastern region of Saudi Arabia during the specified period of the study. The patients were aged 30-73 years (mean age of 48.1 +/- 9.1 years), of which 229(45.3%) were females and 276(54.7%) males. Most patients received sofosbuvir/daclatasvir (86.1%), followed by glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (11.5%), and elbasvir/grazoprevir (2.4%). Overall, the SVR rate was 97.4% in the study population. Sofosbuvir/daclatasvir had an SVR12 of approximately 98.4%, while the rate of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir was 93.1%. Conclusion: The present findings show an overall HCV cure rate of 97.4% of patients with HCV in response to the elimination program with DAAs in the Eastern region of Saudi Arabia, as indicated by high SVR12. This is an example of treating patients with HCV in a structured, supportive setting to help in the HCV elimination program.