2023
Improving HIV and HCV Testing in Substance Use Disorder Programs (SUDs) That Provide Medications for Opiate Use Disorder (MOUD): Role of Addressing Barriers and Implementing Universal and Site-Specific Approaches
Brooks R, Wegener M, Freeman B, Fowles C, Madden L, Tetrault J, Nichols L, Altice F, Villanueva M. Improving HIV and HCV Testing in Substance Use Disorder Programs (SUDs) That Provide Medications for Opiate Use Disorder (MOUD): Role of Addressing Barriers and Implementing Universal and Site-Specific Approaches. Health Promotion Practice 2023, 24: 1018-1028. PMID: 37439759, DOI: 10.1177/15248399231169791.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsCoinfectionHepacivirusHepatitis CHIV InfectionsHumansOpiate AlkaloidsSubstance-Related DisordersConceptsHIV/HCV coinfectionSubstance use disorder programsHCV testingOpiate use disorderHCV coinfectionUse disordersNominal group techniqueSubstance use disorder treatment centersCascade of careRates of HIVDisorder treatment centersQuality improvement effortsRate of testingHCV acquisitionHCV cureImproving HIVSUD clinicsHepatitis CHIV testingPrior diagnosisSubsequent referralReferral ratesHIV epidemicHIVTreatment centersChallenges to Achieving HCV Micro-Elimination in People With HIV in the United States: Provider Perspectives and the Role of Implicit Bias
DiDomizio E, Chandra D, Nichols L, Villanueva M, Altice F. Challenges to Achieving HCV Micro-Elimination in People With HIV in the United States: Provider Perspectives and the Role of Implicit Bias. Health Promotion Practice 2023, 24: 998-1008. PMID: 37440258, DOI: 10.1177/15248399231169928.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsBias, ImplicitDrug UsersHepacivirusHepatitis CHIV InfectionsHumansSubstance Abuse, IntravenousUnited StatesConceptsNominal group techniqueHealth care decisionsProvider perspectivesEligibility criteriaHIV/HCVEffective antiviral medicationsPatient eligibility criteriaFacilitators of treatmentMicro-EliminationHCV treatmentAntiviral medicationsOpioid epidemicProvider knowledgePatient involvementPatient engagementDifferent clinicsRelated stigmaHCVCare decisionsHIVPatientsTreatmentGroup sessionsMost barriersFocus group sessionsModelling the impact and cost‐effectiveness of non‐governmental organizations on HIV and HCV transmission among people who inject drugs in Ukraine
Stone J, Trickey A, Walker J, Bivegete S, Semchuk N, Sazonova Y, Varetska O, Altice F, Saliuk T, Vickerman P. Modelling the impact and cost‐effectiveness of non‐governmental organizations on HIV and HCV transmission among people who inject drugs in Ukraine. Journal Of The International AIDS Society 2023, 26: e26073. PMID: 37012669, PMCID: PMC10070931, DOI: 10.1002/jia2.26073.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAntiretroviral therapyHepatitis C virusHCV incidenceHCV infectionHIV/HCV testingHIV/HCV infectionHCV transmission modelNeedles/syringesHCV testingHCV eliminationHCV transmissionAgonist treatmentC virusNew HIVHigh prevalencePWIDHIVCondom useSubstantial detrimental impactInfectionIncidencePreventative impactDrugsCoverage levelsDALYs
2022
Strengthening systems of care for people with or at risk for HIV, HCV and opioid use disorder: a call for enhanced data collection
Eller AJ, DiDomizio EE, Madden LM, Oliva JD, Altice FL, Johnson KA. Strengthening systems of care for people with or at risk for HIV, HCV and opioid use disorder: a call for enhanced data collection. Annals Of Medicine 2022, 54: 1714-1724. PMID: 35775786, PMCID: PMC9377256, DOI: 10.1080/07853890.2022.2084154.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsData CollectionHepacivirusHepatitis CHIV InfectionsHumansOpioid-Related DisordersUnited StatesConceptsCascade of careHuman immunodeficiency virusOpioid use disorderHepatitis C virusPublic health planningUse disordersCo-occurring opioid use disorderHealth planningBurden of diseaseSystems of careQuality improvement activitiesOUD cascadeTreatment initiationImmunodeficiency virusC virusPatient outcomesTreatment accessPayer sourceTreatment retentionHealth systemHealthcare systemCareSyndemicDisordersVirus
2021
Treatment of Hepatitis C virus among people who inject drugs at a syringe service program during the COVID-19 response: The potential role of telehealth, medications for opioid use disorder and minimal demands on patients
Sivakumar A, Madden L, DiDomizio E, Eller A, Villanueva M, Altice FL. Treatment of Hepatitis C virus among people who inject drugs at a syringe service program during the COVID-19 response: The potential role of telehealth, medications for opioid use disorder and minimal demands on patients. International Journal Of Drug Policy 2021, 101: 103570. PMID: 34954493, PMCID: PMC8685180, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103570.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid use disorderHepatitis C virusSyringe services programDifferentiated care modelPerson visitsC virusCare modelUse disordersInitiation of DAAChronic HCV infectionEvidence-based treatmentsCOVID-19Initial phlebotomyVirological responseHCV infectionHCV treatmentAdditional patientsElevated riskPatientsClient-centred approachPWIDHIVPerson contactTreatment demandLaboratory screeningHIV/AIDS, hepatitis and tuberculosis-related mortality among incarcerated people: a global scoping review.
Bosworth R, Borschmann R, Altice FL, Kinner SA, Dolan K, Farrell M. HIV/AIDS, hepatitis and tuberculosis-related mortality among incarcerated people: a global scoping review. International Journal Of Prisoner Health 2021, 18: 66-82. PMID: 35401772, PMCID: PMC8992694, DOI: 10.1108/ijph-02-2021-0018.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInfectious disease-related mortalityDisease-related mortalityHIV/AIDSInfectious diseasesInfectious disease-related deathsTB-related deathsTuberculosis-related mortalityHIV/TBDisease-related deathScoping ReviewPublic health benefitsNumber of deathsGlobal scoping reviewPreventable mortalityHigh riskHCVMortalityCustodial settingsHBVFirst scoping reviewMortality dataAvailable evidenceDeath rateHealth benefitsDeathModelling the intervention effect of opioid agonist treatment on multiple mortality outcomes in people who inject drugs: a three-setting analysis
Stone J, Degenhardt L, Grebely J, Larney S, Altice FL, Smyrnov P, Rahimi-Movaghar A, Alavi M, Young AM, Havens JR, Miller WC, Hickman M, Vickerman P. Modelling the intervention effect of opioid agonist treatment on multiple mortality outcomes in people who inject drugs: a three-setting analysis. The Lancet Psychiatry 2021, 8: 301-309. PMID: 33640039, PMCID: PMC8255389, DOI: 10.1016/s2215-0366(20)30538-1.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid agonist treatmentDrug-related deathsOAT coverageDrug-related harmAgonist treatmentHepatitis C virus transmissionC virus transmissionOverall health benefitsUK National InstituteNational InstituteHIV 0OAT retentionHIV mortalityInjury 3Opioid dependenceMortality outcomesUS National InstitutesHCV-2Overdose deathsSignificant additional effectIntervention effectsDrug abuseHealth benefitsMortalityDeath
2020
Modeling Combination Hepatitis C Virus Treatment and Prevention Strategies in a Network of People Who Inject Drugs in the United States
Zelenev A, Li J, Shea P, Hecht R, Altice FL. Modeling Combination Hepatitis C Virus Treatment and Prevention Strategies in a Network of People Who Inject Drugs in the United States. Clinical Infectious Diseases 2020, 72: 755-763. PMID: 32060534, PMCID: PMC7935393, DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciaa142.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid agonist therapySyringe services programHepatitis C virus (HCV) treatmentC virus treatmentHCV prevalenceHCV microeliminationHCV TasPHCV treatmentPrevention strategiesVirus treatmentTasP strategyHigh HCV prevalenceMicroelimination of HCVHuman immunodeficiency virusHCV treatment coverageOAT coverageAgonist therapyImmunodeficiency virusTreatment coverageMicroeliminationPrevention impactPrevalenceComplimentary interventionsHCVPWID
2019
Prisons: ignore them at our peril.
Kamarulzaman A, Verster A, Altice FL. Prisons: ignore them at our peril. Current Opinion In HIV And AIDS 2019, 14: 415-422. PMID: 31343458, PMCID: PMC7137098, DOI: 10.1097/coh.0000000000000572.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMedication-assisted therapyDrug useHIV prevention toolPrevalence of HIVMedication-assisted treatmentSyringe services programCriminal justice settingsBasic healthcareMiddle-income settingsHCV preventionOpioid dependenceTreatment strategiesHigh prevalenceOverdose managementRoutine screeningPrevention servicesHIVKey populationsMental healthcareHCVConsolidated guidelinesPrevention toolJustice settingsTreatmentEffective screeningStaying hepatitis C negative: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of cure and reinfection in people who inject drugs
Latham NH, Doyle JS, Palmer AY, Vanhommerig JW, Agius P, Goutzamanis S, Li Z, Pedrana A, Gottfredsson M, Bouscaillou J, Luhmann N, Mazhnaya A, Altice FL, Saeed S, Klein M, Falade‐Nwulia O, Aspinall E, Hutchinson S, Hellard ME, Sacks‐Davis R. Staying hepatitis C negative: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of cure and reinfection in people who inject drugs. Liver International 2019, 39: 2244-2260. PMID: 31125496, DOI: 10.1111/liv.14152.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSustained viral responseDirect-acting antiviralsRecent PWIDOST recipientsTreatment discontinuationPerson yearsReinfection rateRelative riskTreatment outcomesSystematic reviewIncidence of reinfectionTreatment discontinuation ratesPooled relative riskHepatitis C treatmentNewcastle-Ottawa ScaleMixed effects linear modelTherapy recipientsDiscontinuation ratesHepatitis C.Pooled incidenceViral responseCure rateRecent injectingStudy qualityPWIDEvaluation of HIV risk and outcomes in a nationally representative sample of incarcerated women in Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, and Ukraine
Ranjit YS, Azbel L, Krishnan A, Altice FL, Meyer JP. Evaluation of HIV risk and outcomes in a nationally representative sample of incarcerated women in Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, and Ukraine. AIDS Care 2019, 31: 793-797. PMID: 30701981, PMCID: PMC6510603, DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2019.1573969.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAntiretroviral Therapy, Highly ActiveAzerbaijanCommunicable DiseasesComorbidityContinuity of Patient CareFemaleHealth Services AccessibilityHepatitis CHIV InfectionsHumansKyrgyzstanMaleMental DisordersMiddle AgedPrevalencePrisonersPrisonsSubstance-Related DisordersSurveys and QuestionnairesSyphilisUkraineConceptsAlcohol use disorderAntiretroviral therapyHIV preventionHIV riskHIV care continuumCells/μLHigh-risk groupComorbid substance useEffective HIV preventionGlobal HIV preventionHigh rateHepatitis CIncarcerated womenHIV testingHIV incidenceHIV prevalencePsychiatric comorbidityDrug injectionRepresentative sampleCare continuumRisk groupsPsychiatric disordersMost womenUse disordersTreatment interventions
2018
Estimating HIV and HCV prevalence among people who inject drugs in 5 Ukrainian cities using stratification-based respondent driven and random sampling
Zelenev A, Shea P, Mazhnaya A, Meteliuk A, Pykalo I, Marcus R, Fomenko T, Prokhorova T, Altice FL. Estimating HIV and HCV prevalence among people who inject drugs in 5 Ukrainian cities using stratification-based respondent driven and random sampling. International Journal Of Drug Policy 2018, 67: 91-101. PMID: 30503695, PMCID: PMC6537868, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2018.09.010.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHCV prevalenceHIV prevalenceHCV prevalence estimatesHigh HCV prevalencePrevalence of HIVCross-sectional studyLow-resource settingsInverse probability weightsHCV antibodiesHCV infectionTreatment strategiesHIVTreatment prioritiesPrevalence estimatesHealth outcomesBetter preventionPrevalenceLocal epidemicsHCVPWIDOverall sampleSelection biasPreventionProbability weightsRegular basisIncarceration history and risk of HIV and hepatitis C virus acquisition among people who inject drugs: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Stone J, Fraser H, Lim AG, Walker JG, Ward Z, MacGregor L, Trickey A, Abbott S, Strathdee SA, Abramovitz D, Maher L, Iversen J, Bruneau J, Zang G, Garfein RS, Yen YF, Azim T, Mehta SH, Milloy MJ, Hellard ME, Sacks-Davis R, Dietze PM, Aitken C, Aladashvili M, Tsertsvadze T, Mravčík V, Alary M, Roy E, Smyrnov P, Sazonova Y, Young AM, Havens JR, Hope VD, Desai M, Heinsbroek E, Hutchinson SJ, Palmateer NE, McAuley A, Platt L, Martin NK, Altice FL, Hickman M, Vickerman P. Incarceration history and risk of HIV and hepatitis C virus acquisition among people who inject drugs: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet Infectious Diseases 2018, 18: 1397-1409. PMID: 30385157, PMCID: PMC6280039, DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(18)30469-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHCV acquisition riskAcquisition riskHCV incidenceModerate heterogeneitySystematic reviewHepatitis C virus acquisitionHepatitis C virus infectionHIV acquisition riskRisk of HCVC virus infectionNewcastle-Ottawa ScaleRisk of biasRisk of HIVNational InstituteCommunity-recruited PWIDOutcomes of interestIncident infectionsCohort studyHIV acquisitionHIV transmissionHigh prevalenceVirus infectionRecent incarcerationExclusion criteriaHigh riskDrug injection within prison in Kyrgyzstan: elevated HIV risk and implications for scaling up opioid agonist treatments
Azbel L, Wegman MP, Polonsky M, Bachireddy C, Meyer J, Shumskaya N, Kurmanalieva A, Dvoryak S, Altice FL. Drug injection within prison in Kyrgyzstan: elevated HIV risk and implications for scaling up opioid agonist treatments. International Journal Of Prisoner Health 2018, 14: 175-187. PMID: 30274558, PMCID: PMC6447033, DOI: 10.1108/ijph-03-2017-0016.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMethadone maintenance treatmentNeedle syringe programsDrug injectionDrug injectorsHigh HIV risk behaviorElevated HIV riskPrison drug injectionHepatitis C infectionOpioid agonist treatmentHIV risk behaviorsC infectionHIV incidenceAgonist treatmentMaintenance treatmentIndependent correlatesBiobehavioral surveysHIV riskOnly examinationRisk behaviorsMMT useLow uptakeCurrent incarcerationInjectionLogit linkHigh-risk environmentsIntegrated Models of Care for Individuals with Opioid Use Disorder: How Do We Prevent HIV and HCV?
Rich KM, Bia J, Altice FL, Feinberg J. Integrated Models of Care for Individuals with Opioid Use Disorder: How Do We Prevent HIV and HCV? Current HIV/AIDS Reports 2018, 15: 266-275. PMID: 29774442, PMCID: PMC6003996, DOI: 10.1007/s11904-018-0396-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid use disorderUse disordersCommunity-based harm reduction programsHIV pre-exposure prophylaxisHIV specialty carePre-exposure prophylaxisOpioid treatment programsMultidisciplinary care modelMedication-assisted treatmentBehavioral health servicesPurpose of ReviewToCo-located careHarm reduction programsHarm reduction servicesSpread of HIVTransitional clinicsHCV treatmentHepatitis CPrimary careSpecialty careCare modelPsychiatric careHIVHealth servicesReduction servicesHepatitis C virus status awareness and test results confirmation among people who inject drugs in Ukraine
Iakunchykova O, Meteliuk A, Zelenev A, Mazhnaya A, Tracy M, Altice FL. Hepatitis C virus status awareness and test results confirmation among people who inject drugs in Ukraine. International Journal Of Drug Policy 2018, 57: 11-17. PMID: 29655101, PMCID: PMC5994183, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2018.03.022.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAnti-HCV testIndependent correlatesHCV testingPositive statusAnti-HCV positive statusAnti-HCV positivityHCV treatment cascadeHCV-positive statusOpioid-dependent PWIDRegular HCV testingHIV-negative participantsPositive test resultsChronic HCVHCV prevalenceStatus awarenessHCV infectionHCV preventionTreatment cascadeTreatment strategiesTreatment utilizationNegative participantsPWIDTreatment experienceHCVConfirmatory testingLinkage and retention in HCV care for HIV‐infected populations: early data from the DAA era
Sacks‐Davis R, Doyle JS, Rauch A, Beguelin C, Pedrana AE, Matthews GV, Prins M, van der Valk M, Klein MB, Saeed S, Lacombe K, Chkhartishvili N, Altice FL, Hellard ME. Linkage and retention in HCV care for HIV‐infected populations: early data from the DAA era. Journal Of The International AIDS Society 2018, 21: e25051. PMID: 29633559, PMCID: PMC5978682, DOI: 10.1002/jia2.25051.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCo-infected populationHIV co-infected populationElimination initiativeHCV eliminationHIV/HCV co-infected populationCare dataHCV treatment uptakeSustained virological responseHalf of patientsDAA eraDAA treatmentHCV careSVR ratesVirological responseHCV infectionHCV treatmentHCV RNAImplementation science frameworkTreatment uptakeHigh-income countriesHIVIntervention characteristicsTreatment availabilityDiagnosis rateElimination programAge-Specific Global Prevalence of Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV, and Tuberculosis Among Incarcerated People: A Systematic Review
Kinner SA, Snow K, Wirtz AL, Altice FL, Beyrer C, Dolan K. Age-Specific Global Prevalence of Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV, and Tuberculosis Among Incarcerated People: A Systematic Review. Journal Of Adolescent Health 2018, 62: s18-s26. PMID: 29455713, PMCID: PMC7413042, DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2017.09.030.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHepatitis CHepatitis BRelative riskOlder prisonersGlobal prevalencePrevalence estimatesSystematic reviewPrevalence of HIVAge-specific prevalence estimatesAge-specific prevalenceIncidence of infectionActive tuberculosisPooled prevalenceLow prevalenceHIVPrevalenceInfectionYoung adultsTuberculosisAge categoriesIncarcerated populationsAYAsIncarcerated adolescentsIncarcerated peopleCustodial settings
2017
Hepatitis C virus treatment as prevention in an extended network of people who inject drugs in the USA: a modelling study
Zelenev A, Li J, Mazhnaya A, Basu S, Altice FL. Hepatitis C virus treatment as prevention in an extended network of people who inject drugs in the USA: a modelling study. The Lancet Infectious Diseases 2017, 18: 215-224. PMID: 29153265, PMCID: PMC5860640, DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(17)30676-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdolescentAdultAgedAged, 80 and overAntiviral AgentsChemopreventionCitiesComputer SimulationDisease Transmission, InfectiousFemaleHepatitis CHumansMaleMiddle AgedModels, StatisticalPrevalenceSubstance Abuse, IntravenousSurveys and QuestionnairesTime FactorsTreatment OutcomeUnited StatesYoung AdultConceptsBaseline HCV prevalenceHepatitis C virusHCV prevalenceInjection partnersPrevention strategiesTreatment coverageTransmission of HCVHepatitis C virus (HCV) treatmentHCV elimination strategySuccessful HCV treatmentC virus treatmentInjection drug usersHCV treatment coverageAdditional network memberHCV treatmentActing antiviralsC virusChronic infectionVirus treatmentDrug usersPrevalenceDrug abuseDrugsNational InstitutePreventionImplementing and scaling up HCV treatment services for people who inject drugs and other high risk groups in Ukraine: An evaluation of programmatic and treatment outcomes
Mazhnaya A, Meteliuk A, Barnard T, Zelenev A, Filippovych S, Altice FL. Implementing and scaling up HCV treatment services for people who inject drugs and other high risk groups in Ukraine: An evaluation of programmatic and treatment outcomes. International Journal Of Drug Policy 2017, 47: 187-195. PMID: 28811159, PMCID: PMC5918282, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2017.07.023.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAntiviral AgentsCoinfectionFemaleGenotypeHealth ServicesHepacivirusHepatitis CHIV InfectionsHumansInterferon-alphaMalePolyethylene GlycolsProgram DevelopmentProgram EvaluationRecombinant ProteinsRibavirinRisk FactorsSex FactorsSofosbuvirSubstance Abuse, IntravenousSustained Virologic ResponseTreatment OutcomeUkraineYoung AdultConceptsSustained virologic responseHCV treatmentRisk groupsSVR ratesMedical recordsDirect acting antiviral medicationsComparable SVR ratesHCV genotype 3HCV prevalence estimatesHCV treatment servicesActing antiviral (DAA) medicationsCombination of sofosbuvirHigh-risk groupPatient-level outcomesProportion of participantsCommunity-based settingsDAA treatmentVirologic responseAntiviral medicationsHIV characteristicsHCV genotypesIndependent correlatesSVR dataFemale sexGenotype 3