EFFECTIVENESS OF ORAL DIRECT ACTING ANTIVIRALS IN ELDERLY CHRONIC HEPATITIS C PATIENTS: REAL-WORLD DATA

Introduction: Objectives: Elderly cases have not been adequately represented in clinical trials with respect to chronic hepatitis C treatment. Extremely limited real-world data is available on new direct-acting antivirals in elderly patients. Herein, we aim to evaluate real-world data on new direct-acting antivirals used in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus. Materials and Method: Medical records of 122 patients who started treatment with new direct-acting antivirals between January 2018 and December 2019 owing to chronic hepatitis C virus infection were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were divided into two age groups: those younger than 65 years and those aged 65 and older. Sustained virological response at 12 week rates were compared between the two groups. Sustained virological response at 12 week treatment efficacy analyses were performed with both modified intention to tract and per protocol. Results: Sustained virological response in the 12th week post treatment was similar in both elderly patients and younger patients. Per protocol analysis was 97.6% (42/43) vs. 100% (56/56) and modified intention to tract analysis was 91.3% (43/45) vs. 91.8% (56/61), respectively. The most common genotype of patients aged 65 years and older were 1b 80%, and the most common genotype of patients younger than 65 years was 1b 57%. Conclusion: In the present study, Sustained virological response rates were similar in elderly patients compared to younger patients; however, very limited information is available on the effectiveness and safety of new, recently approved direct-acting antivirals in the elderly population.