@article {17360,
	title = {Is elimination of HCV possible in a country with low diagnostic rate and moderate HCV prevalence?: The case of Greece},
	journal = {J Gastroenterol Hepatol},
	volume = {32},
	number = {2},
	year = {2017},
	note = {Gountas, IliasSypsa, VanaPapatheodoridis, GeorgeSouliotis, GeorgeRazavi, HomieHatzakis, AngelosengAustralia2016/07/13 06:00J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2017 Feb;32(2):466-472. doi: 10.1111/jgh.13485.},
	month = {Feb},
	pages = {466-472},
	abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIM: The treatment of hepatitis C (HCV) with interferon (IFN)-free direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) is anticipated to change the future burden of disease. The aim of this study is to quantify the impact of IFN-free DAAs on HCV-related morbidity and mortality in Greece under different scenarios concerning treatment coverage and primary prevention, including the proposed by World Health Organization Global Hepatitis Strategy. METHODS: A previously described model was used to project the future disease burden up to 2030 under scenarios, which includes treatment based on the combination of pegylated-IFN with ribavirin (base case) and scenarios using DAAs therapies. RESULTS: Under the base case scenario, an increase in HCV-related morbidity and mortality is predicted in Greece (mortality in 2030: +23.6\% compared with 2015). If DAAs are used with the same treatment coverage, the number of hepatocellular carcinoma cases and of liver related deaths are predicted to be lower by 4-7\% compared with 2015. Under increased treatment coverage (from 2000 treated/year to approximately 5000/year in 2015-2020 and 2500/year subsequently), morbidity and mortality will decrease by 43-53\% in 2030 compared with 2015. To achieve the WHO Global Hepatitis Strategy goals, a total number of 86 500 chronic hepatitis C patients will have to be treated during 2015-2030. CONCLUSIONS: Elimination of HCV in Greece by 2030 necessitates great improvements in primary prevention, implementation of large screening programs and high treatment coverage.},
	keywords = {Antiviral Agents/*administration \& dosage, Disease Eradication, Drug Therapy, Combination, Greece/epidemiology, Hepatitis C/diagnosis/*epidemiology/mortality/*prevention \& control, Humans, Interferon-alpha/administration \& dosage, Mass Screening, Morbidity, Polyethylene Glycols/administration \& dosage, Prevalence, Recombinant Proteins/administration \& dosage, Ribavirin/*administration \& dosage, Time Factors, World Health Organization},
	isbn = {1440-1746 (Electronic)0815-9319 (Linking)},
	author = {Gountas, I. and Sypsa, V and Papatheodoridis, G. and Souliotis, G. and Razavi, H. and Hatzakis, A}
}
