The impact of lifetime drug use on hepatitis C treatment outcomes in insured members of an integrated health care plan.

Background: The relation of drug use to HCV treatment outcome in an insured household population has not been previously reported.

Methods: Lifetime frequencies of marijuana use and non-medical use of stimulants, sedatives, and opioids; hallucinogens; and inhalants were retrospectively assessed in 259 privately insured members of an integrated health care plan treated for chronic hepatitis C virus infection (HCV+) with pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin and examined with respect to rates of sustained virological response (SVR).

Results: The majority of patients reported chronic use of multiple illegal drugs; 61.

The impact of lifetime alcohol use on hepatitis C treatment outcomes in privately insured members of an integrated health care plan.

Unlabelled: Treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection (HCV(+) ) has historically been shown to be less effective in patients with a heavy drinking history. The effect of moderate and heavy alcohol use on treatment with pegylated interferon-alpha and ribavirin (P/R) in an insured household population has not been previously reported. We investigated the effect of alcohol on treatment outcome in a cohort of 421 treatment-naïve HCV(+) patients, members of an integrated health care plan treated with P/R between January 2002 and June 2008.