0000000000676655
AUTHOR
Ieva Tolmane
Clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients in Latvia under low incidence in Spring 2020
ABSTRACTBackgroundCOVID-19 is a new infectious disease with severe disease course and high mortality in some groups. Blood tests on admission to the hospital can be useful for stratification of patients and timely correction. Our study investigated the clinical features of COVID-19 patients in Latvia and differences in blood tests in groups with different disease severity.MethodsThe retrospective study included 100 patients hospitalized in Riga East Clinical University Hospital in Spring 2020. The severity of the disease course was classified by the presence of pneumonia and its combination with respiratory failure. We have assessed blood cells’ count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, erythrocyte se…
Advancing the global public health agenda for NAFLD: a consensus statement
Digital
Is elimination of HCV in 2030 realistic in Central Europe.
According to the recent data presented by Central-European HCV experts, the estimated prevalence of HCV is between 0.2% and 1.7% in certain countries in this region. There are no financial limitations to access to treatment in most countries. Patients in these countries have access to at least one pangenotypic regimen. The most common barriers to the elimination of HCV in Central Europe are a lack of established national screening programmes and limited political commitment to the elimination of HCV. Covid-19 has significantly affected the number of patients who have been diagnosed and treated, thus, delaying the potential elimination of HCV. These data suggest that the elimination of HCV e…
Restrictions for reimbursement of interferon-free direct-acting antiviral drugs for HCV infection in Europe
All-oral direct-acting antiviral drugs (DAAs) for hepatitis C virus, which have response rates of 95% or more, represent a major clinical advance. However, the high list price of DAAs has led many governments to restrict their reimbursement. We reviewed the availability of, and national criteria for, interferon-free DAA reimbursement among countries in the European Union and European Economic Area, and Switzerland. Reimbursement documentation was reviewed between Nov 18, 2016, and Aug 1, 2017. Primary outcomes were fibrosis stage, drug or alcohol use, prescriber type, and HIV co-infection restrictions. Among the 35 European countries and jurisdictions included, the most commonly reimbursed …
Global prevalence and genotype distribution of hepatitis C virus infection in 2015:a modelling study
WOS: 000426979400014
Global change in hepatitis C virus prevalence and cascade of care between 2015 and 2020
Background Since the release of the first global hepatitis elimination targets in 2016, and until the COVID-19 pandemic started in early 2020, many countries and territories were making progress toward hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination. This study aims to evaluate HCV burden in 2020, and forecast HCV burden by 2030 given current trends. Methods This analysis includes a literature review, Delphi process, and mathematical modelling to estimate HCV prevalence (viraemic infection, defined as HCV RNA-positive cases) and the cascade of care among people of all ages (age =0 years from birth) for the period between Jan 1, 2015, and Dec 31, 2030. Epidemiological data were collected from published …
Hepatitis C virus prevalence and level of intervention required to achieve the WHO targets for elimination in the European Union by 2030: a modelling study
Background Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a leading cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. In the European Union (EU), treatment and cure of HCV with direct-acting antiviral therapies began in 2014. WHO targets are to achieve a 65% reduction in liver-related deaths, a 90% reduction of new viral hepatitis infections, and 90% of patients with viral hepatitis infections being diagnosed by 2030. This study assessed the prevalence of HCV in the EU and the level of intervention required to achieve WHO targets for HCV elimination. Methods We populated country Markov models for the 28 EU countries through a literature search of PubMed and Embase between Jan 1, 2000, and March 31, 201…
The case for simplifying and using absolute targets for viral hepatitis elimination goals
The 69th World Health Assembly endorsed the Global Health Sector Strategy for Viral Hepatitis, embracing a goal to eliminate hepatitis infection as a public health threat by 2030. This was followed by the World Health Organization's (WHO) global targets for the care and management of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. These announcements and targets were important in raising awareness and calling for action; however, tracking countries’ progress towards these elimination goals has provided insights to the limitations of these targets. The existing targets compare a country's progress relative to its 2015 values, penalizing countries who started their programmes …
Direct-acting antivirals ombitasvir/paritaprevir/rotonavir+dasabuvir with or without ribavirin in hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1-infected treatment-naive or treatment-experienced patients with or without cirrhosis: real-life experience in Lithuania and Latvia
Background: The current international multicentre open-label, uncontrolled, real-world retrospective study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness and safety of ombitasvir / paritaprevir / ritonavir + dasabuvir ± ribavirin (3D therapy) in treatment-naive and treatment-experienced hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1-infected (GT1) patients. Methods: Adult patients with chronic HCV GT1 infection, scheduled for 3D therapy according to therapeutic guidelines, were eligible. Demographic and clinical data were collected retrospectively by reviewing individuals health records. The primary effectiveness endpoint was the sustained virological response at 12 weeks following the end of treatment (SVR12).…