Hepatitis C Elimination in People With HIV Is Contingent on Closing Gaps in the HIV Continuum

BACKGROUND: Bolstered by the high efficacy of hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment, the World Health Organization has called for HCV elimination by 2030. People with HIV (PWH) have been identified as a population in which elimination should be prioritized. METHODS: We examined progress in HCV elimination through the HCV care continuum among patients infected with HIV/HCV receiving HIV care at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Patients with HIV care visits in at least 2 consecutive years were followed through December 15, 2018, for referral to HCV care, treatment initiation, and cure. RESULTS: Among 593 HIV/HCV-coinfected individuals, 547 (92%) were referred for HCV care, 517 (87%) were evaluated for HCV treatment, 457 (77%) were prescribed HCV treatment, 426 (72%) initiated treatment, and 370 (62%) achieved HCV cure. In multivariable analysis, advanced liver disease (hazard ratio [HR], 1.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.17–1.88) remained significantly positively associated with HCV treatment initiation. Conversely, being insured by state Medicaid (HR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.61–0.92), having an HIV RNA >400 copies/mL (HR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.18–0.49), and having missed 1%–24% (HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.54–0.97), 25%–49% (HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.49–0.89), and ≥50% of HIV care visits (HR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.25–0.60) were significantly negatively associated with HCV treatment initiation. CONCLUSIONS: HCV infection can be eliminated in PWH. However, HCV elimination requires unrestricted access to HCV treatment and improved methods of retaining people in medical care.