DRug Use & Infections in ViEtnam - Hepatitis C (DRIVE-C)

Objectives :

The primary objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness of a model of hepatitis C screening and integrated care targeting PWIDs in Hai Phong, Vietnam.

This model will encompass all steps involved in achieving HCV cure among PWIDs:

i) Mass detection of hepatitis C infection among PWIDs: in the community through a large community-based Respondent Driven Sampling survey (RDS); and in HIV out-patient clinics and methadone treatment centers where serological testing should have been made, but not HCV RNA to confirm hepatitis C infection.

ii) a community-based support to improve referral to specific care for those with hepatitis C infection; iii) a HCV care system delivery integrated within the existing health system with a simplified treatment protocol taking into account PWIDs specificities such as frequent HIV co-infection and methadone treatment; iv) an optimized treatment adherence through a combination of health care therapeutic education and CBO support; v) an increase in harm reduction activities to encompass HCV risk transmission and to prevent HCV reinfection.

Secondary objectives are:

• to assess all steps of the hepatitis C cascade of care (Hepatitis C infection diagnosis; HCV care enrolment; HCV treatment initiation; HCV treatment success);
• to assess the occurrence of adverse events (death, morbidity) and drug-related side-effects;
• to evaluate adherence to HCV treatment;
• to determine factors associated with treatment failure defined by a positive HCV RNA 12 weeks after the end of HCV treatment;
• to estimate the reinfection rate at the end of the study and to identify risk factors of HCV reinfection;
• to project the impact and cost-effectiveness of the implemented HCV treatment intervention.

Study design : the effectiveness-implementation hybrid study type 1 design will simultaneously allow assessing the effectiveness of Direct-Acting Antivirals (DAA) care strategy among PWIDs in Vietnam, and the potential obstacles to widespread implementation.

The strategy of care includes a large community-based mass screening, a simplified treatment protocol based on a combination of DAAs, taking into account co-morbidities (addiction, HIV), physician training and important support of Community Based Organizations (CBO's) for linkage to care after screening, treatment adherence and prevention of reinfection after cure.

In addition, 2 others components are included in the study:

• A modeling exercise to assess the impact of the intervention at the population level,
• A cost-effectiveness analysis to further inform policy-makers.

Patients will be followed for 48 weeks after initiating HCV treatment. The estimated enrolment is 1050 participants.

Study population: people who currently inject drugs or who have recently started opioid substitution treatment.

Implementation: The study is linked to the NIDA RO1 DA041978 / ANRS 12353 DRIVE project. Participant recruitment will take place through DRIVE RDS survey and DRIVE cohort follow-up visit in two community sites managed by peer-groups in Hai Phong. All participants with positive HCV serology will be screened for hepatitis C and positive HCV RNA will be proposed for DAA treatment in 3 hospital-based HCV clinics. All participants will attend 9 study visits, comprising of clinical examination, blood collection for side effects and viral load assessment, therapeutic education, questionnaires on alcohol use, on sexual, drug use and other behaviors focusing on HCV infection risks or HCV reinfection risks and on quality of life, and harm reduction activities with the support of CBOs.

Inclusion criteria

• Participants of the ANRS 12353/NIDA ROI DA 041978 DRIVE study (age > 18 years; positive urine test for heroin an/o methamphetamine & skin marks of injection ) who either participated to the DRIVE RDS3 survey, or to the HIV-positive and HIV-negative DRIVE cohorts;
• Hepatitis C infection defined by a positive HCV RNA
• Signed informed consent form

Exclusion criteria

• Severe associated diseases requiring specific treatment (including all specific AIDS defining illnesses, any severe sepsis, severe decompensated cirrhosis, suspicion of hepatocellular carcinoma);
• Any condition which might, in the investigator's opinion, compromise the safety of the patient by participating in the study including very severe clinical condition;
• Previous history of DAA use;
• Contraindication for treatment with sofosbuvir or daclatasvir;
• For women of childbearing potential i.e. women of childbearing age who are not menopausal, or permanently sterilized or not refraining from sexual activity:
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding
• Refusal to use a contraceptive method
• Renal failure with creatinine clearance ≤ 30 milliliter per minute;
• Person deprived of freedom by a judicial or administrative decision;
• Person who plan to move out from Hai Phong in the next 12 months;
• Person unable to understand the study;