Mortality Benefit of Successful Anti-HCV DAA Therapy in Patients Without Advanced Liver Disease

Although direct-acting antiviral (DAA) regimens are effective in eradicating hepatitis C virus (HCV), their effect on long-term survival is unclear. Early studies in the interferon-based treatment era noted improved survival among HCV patients with advanced fibrosis, but studies in those with milder fibrosis are lacking.

In an observational cohort analysis, researchers assessed mortality in over 40,000 patients of Veterans Affairs facilities who received all-oral DAA therapy for genotype 1, 2, or 3 HCV infection and did not have advanced liver disease (FIB-4 score ≤3.25 and no evidence of overt compensated or decompensated cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma).

In patients who achieved sustained virologic response (SVR; rate, 97%), the morta…