Control and Elimination of Hepatitis C Virus Among People With HIV in Australia: Extended Follow-up of the CEASE Cohort (2014-2023)

Background: Approximately 10% of people with HIV in Australia had active hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection prior to availability of government-subsidized direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy in 2016. This analysis evaluated progress toward HCV elimination among people with HIV in Australia between 2014 and 2023.

Methods: The CEASE cohort study enrolled adults with HIV with past or current HCV infection (anti-HCV antibody positive) from 14 primary and tertiary clinics. Biobehavioral, clinical, and virologic data were collected at enrollment (2014-2016), follow-up 1 (2017-2018), and follow-up 2 (2021-2023). HCV treatment uptake, outcome, and HCV RNA prevalence (current infection) were evaluated. Death and HCV reinfection incidence and risk were assessed.

Results: Of 402 participants, 341 (85%) had current HCV infection (RNA positive) at enrollment. Among the sample, 83% were gay and bisexual men, 13% had cirrhosis, and 80% had a history of injecting drug use (42%, past 6 months). DAA treatment was scaled up rapidly, with cumulative treatment uptake increasing from 12% in 2014 to 2015 to 92% in 2022 to 2023. HCV RNA prevalence declined from 85% (95% CI, 81%-88%) at enrollment (2014-2016) to 8% (95% CI, 6%-12%) at follow-up 1 (2017-2018) and 0.5% (95% CI, 0%-3%) at follow-up 2 (2020-2023). Sixteen reinfections occurred (incidence, 1.41 per 100 person-years; 95% CI, .81-2.29) as well as 30 deaths (incidence, 1.64 per 100 person-years; 95% CI, 1.11-2.34). HCV reinfection incidence declined over time while mortality remained stable.

Conclusions: Universal access and rapid DAA uptake were associated with a dramatic reduction in HCV prevalence and reinfection incidence among people with HIV to levels consistent with microelimination. Registration: NCT02102451 (ClinicalTrials.gov).