Hepatitis C virus eradication decreases the risks of liver cirrhosis and cirrhosis-related complications (Taiwanese chronic hepatitis C cohort)

Background and Aim: It is currently unknown how hepatitis C virus (HCV) eradication with pegylated interferon and ribavirin (PR) therapy affects the incidence of new-onset liver cirrhosis (LC) in patients without cirrhosis and the incidence of decompensated liver disease (DLD) or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with cirrhosis. Methods: Taiwanese chronic hepatitis C cohort (T-COACH) is a nationwide HCV registry cohort from 23 hospitals in Taiwan recruited between 2003 and 2015. This study enrolled 10 693 patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC), linked to the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, receiving PR therapy for at least 4 weeks for new-onset LC and liver-related complications (DLD or HCC). Results: Of the 10 693 patients, 1372 (12.8%) patients had LC, and the mean age was 54.0 ± 11.4 years. The mean follow-up duration was 4.38 ± 2.79 years, with overall 46 798 person-years. The 10-year cumulative incidence rates of new-onset LC were 5.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.2–7.7) in patients without cirrhosis with a sustained virologic response (SVR) and 21.9% (95% CI: 13.4–32.4) in those without SVR (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.22, P < 0.001). The 10-year cumulative incidence rates of liver-related complications were 21.4% (95% CI: 11.1–37.2) in patients with cirrhosis with SVR and 47.0% (95% CI: 11.1–86.0) in those without SVR after adjustment for age, sex, and competing mortality (HR: 0.52, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Hepatitis C virus eradication with PR therapy decreased the incidence of new-onset LC in noncirrhotic patients and the incidence of liver-related complications in cirrhotic patients with CHC.