Effect of Health Insurance on Hepatitis C Sustained Virologic Response Rates to Sofosbuvir-Based Treatment Regimens in a South Florida Community Hospital

Abstract

The high cost of direct-acting antiviral–based regimens raises concerns about the outcome of treatment in uninsured patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. This study assessed the relationship between health insurance status and sustained virologic response (SVR) rates in a community hospital in South Florida. Sofosbuvir-based therapy was initiated in 82 patients, of which 73% were uninsured and 28 (34%) were HIV coinfection. The overall SVR rate for those tested was 98%. The SVR rates were similar between HCV mono- and HCV/HIV coinfected patients (96% versus 100%, P =.204). Uninsured patients, with access to patient assistance programs, had comparable SVR rates to insured patients (100% versus 95%, P =.131). However, there was a trend toward a higher rate of loss to follow-up in uninsured compared to insured patients (25% versus 9%, P =.116). Strategies specific to adherence to treatment for uninsured patients are needed to reduce rates of loss to follow-up.