How many people in New Zealand have Hepatitis C ?
The often quoted 50,000 New Zealanders’ with HCV figure derives from a study, Hepatitis C infection in New Zealand: Estimating the current and future prevalence and impact July 2000
The objective of this project was to estimate the number of people in New Zealand who are currently infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and how many are likely to become infected up until the year 2010. It also aimed to project how many people are expected to develop HCV-related liver disease.
The study uses a model developed by the National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research in Australia. The model was modified to reflect the epidemiology of HCV infection and injecting drug use in New Zealand. It is based on estimating the number of people who have used injecting drugs over time and determining the incidence of HCV as a result of this. These estimates were adjusted for transmission from other routes including the receipt of HCV-infected blood and blood products.
The estimates and projections from the model must be interpreted with caution as there are limited New Zealand data for the input variables of the model.
So lots of assumptions later and with lots of qualifying statements we have the guesstimate of 50,000 Zealanders’ with HCV the truth no one knows ?
Australian study
An Australian led, international clinical trial, being presented at the European Association for the Study of the Liver Congress in Copenhagen this week has highlighted the benefits of treating hepatitis C sooner, rather than later.
The study involved more than 700 Australians with hepatitis C and 33 Australian hospitals. It found people living with the most common strain of hepatitis C who receive treatment when there is minimal, or no liver damage, may double their chance of a cure, compared to those treated in the later stages, where liver damage has become more advanced.
“We found that that up to seven out of ten people, with the most common strain of hepatitis C (called genotype 1), may be cured if treatment starts before liver scarring or damage has occurred.”
Associate Professor Stuart Roberts, Director of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne
Christchurch Hepatitis C Community Clinic
Christchurch Hepatitis C Community Clinic, Information about clinic and interview with nurse Jenny Burke and from Christchurch Hepatitis C resource Centre in their Connexion magazine reproduced here.
http://www.hcv.org.nz/christchurchclinicjbourke.html
The clinic has opened in partnership with the Christchurch needle exchange, The Rodger Wright Centre. Personally I would rather go to a GP / hospital to access health services.
I was at a party recently when a old friend approached me and told me about getting a blood test at one. She was not impressed, She is in recovery (staunch NA person lots’ of regular meetings etc) she described the experience as making her feel like a junky again and that the person couldn’t get a blood sample from her despite numerous tries.
For people who are immersed in the sad reality of drug use Community Clinics may be the only way they can access health care and it is important to cater for these disadvantaged groups if we are to effectively address Hepatitis C epidemic in New Zealand.
The claim it is the first community hepatitis C clinic in NZ is somewhat dubious as it appears to offer no treatment just referrals for treatment.
The European Association of the Study of Liver Disease wrapped up on Sunday in Copenhagen. Some new drugs and studies revealed at EASL in Copenhagen EASL , here are some of the highlights of all things hepatitis C including
Roche, InterMune(ITMN Quote) and Pharmasset(VRUS Quote) provided the most eagerly anticipated clinical data of the conference Saturday with results from a 14-day trial combining two experimental direct antivirals — InterMune’s ITMN-191 with Pharmasset’s R7128 — given to patients with treatment-naïve hepatitis C. Roche is a development partner on both drugs.
telaprevir is capable of significantly improving cure rates in the most difficult-to-treat patients who had failed prior treatment with the current standard drug regimen for hepatitis C — a 48-week course of long-acting interferon plus ribavirin.
This data keeps telaprevir ahead of its hepatitis C rivals because no other drug has yet shown the ability to improve the cure rates for both patients new to therapy as well as those who have failed prior therapy.
Telaprevir was the “butt” of some negative EASL chatter due to an anecdotal report that the drug was causing severe anal itching in patient(s). One EASL attendee described the side effect as “fire in the hole.”
http://www.thestreet.com/story/10492231/1/hepatitis-c-updates-from-easl-liver-confab.html
World Hepatitis Day coming up Tuesday, May 19, 2009
www.hcv.org decided to celebrate World Hepatitis Day by finding out how many people in New Zealand are treated and what level of care and treatment and support is available.
We sent letters to all District health boards and are hoping to get back replies and post them up in next month or so.
It is inspired by a recent study of Asthma care in NZ http://www.nzherald.co.nz/health/news/article.cfm?c_id=204&objectid=10556507
Otago and Canterbury were done earlier and their replies here.
http://www.hcv.org.nz/CHCHOIA08.html
http://www.hcv.org.nz/otagoaudit08.html
Best of Health
www.hcv.org.nz