Yildirim, Figen SarigulUser, UlkuSari, Nagehan DidemKurtaran, BehiceOnlen, YusufSenates, EbubekirTabak, Fehmi2025-05-102025-05-1020222148-560710.5152/tjg.2022.218342-s2.0-85142524509https://doi.org/10.5152/tjg.2022.21834https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14720/10246Yildiz Kaya, Sibel/0000-0002-6319-7889; Erben, Nurettin/0000-0003-0373-0132; Karabay, Oguz/0000-0003-1514-1685; Komur, Suheyla/0000-0003-2414-559X; Karaali, Ridvan/0000-0003-2440-7529; Hizel, Kenan/0000-0001-8644-139X; Yildiz, Ilknur Esen/0000-0003-2987-0483Background: People who inject drugs (PWID) should be treated in order to eliminate hepatitis C virus in the world. The aim of this study was to compare direct-acting antivirals treatment of hepatitis C virus for PWID and non-PWID in a real-life setting. Methods: We performed a prospective, non-randomized, observational multicenter cohort study in 37 centers. All patients treated with direct-acting antivirals between April 1, 2017, and February 28, 2019, were included. In total, 2713 patients were included in the study among which 250 were PWID and 2463 were non-PWID. Besides patient characteristics, treatment response, follow-up, and side effects of treatment were also analyzed. Results: Genotype 1a and 3 were more prevalent in PWID-infected patients (20.4% vs 9.9% and 46.8% vs 5.3%). The number of naive patients was higher in PWID (90.7% vs 60.0%), while the number of patients with cirrhosis was higher in non-PWID (14.1% vs 3.7%). The loss of follow-up was higher in PWID (29.6% vs 13.6%). There was no difference in the sustained virologic response at 12 weeks after treatment (98.3% vs 98.4%), but the end of treatment response was lower in PWID (96.2% vs 99.0%). In addition, the rate of treatment completion was lower in PWID (74% vs 94.4%). Conclusion: Direct-acting antivirals were safe and effective in PWID. Primary measures should be taken to prevent the loss of follow-up and poor adherence in PWID patients in order to achieve World Health Organization's objective of eliminating viral hepatitis.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessDrug TherapyDrug UsersHepatitis C VirusArticle3311Q4Q3971978364159001175267WOS:000898674900009