Abstract

Background: Direct-acting antivirals (DAA) allowed a radical change in the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV), achieving the elimination of the virus or sustained viral response (SVR) in > 95% of patients, with good tolerance and few adverse effects. Aim: To characterize the treated population and evaluate the efficacy of DAA treatment in the Chilean public health system. Material and Methods: Retrospective analysis of data sheets of patients with chronic HCV infection collected by the Ministry of Health of Chile between 2016 and May 2019. Results: Two hundred and fifty-five patients with a mean age of 59 years (51% males) were collected. Genotype 1b was predominant, 72% patients had a diagnosis of cirrhosis at the beginning of treatment. Sofosbuvir-Velpatasvir was predominantly used in 56%. SVR was achieved in 92% of cases, only 4% persisted with detectable load at 24 weeks. A significant decrease in alanine aminotransferase values (88 and 31 U/L respectively, p < 0.01) and a significant increase in plasma albumin (3.7 and 3.9 mg/dl respectively, p = 0.02) were observed. The comparative analysis of MELD-Na before and after treatment did not show a significant variation (10.8 and 10.4 respectively, p = 0.34). Conclusions: These patients treated with DAAs presented SVR rates comparable with national and international data