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Background Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are becoming accessible in sub-Saharan Africa. This study examined the effectiveness of DAAs in patients treated through the Rwandan national health system and identified factors associated with treatment outcomes. Methods This retrospective study used data from the national hepatitis C virus (HCV) program for patients who initiated DAAs between November 2015 and March 2017. Sustained virological response at 12 weeks after treatment (SVR12) was the primary outcome. Logistic regression models were fit to estimate the relationship between patients' clinical and demographic characteristics and treatment outcome. Results 894 patients started treatment during the study period; 590 completed treatment and had SVR12 results. Among the 304 patients without SVR12 results, 48 were lost to follow-up and 256 had no SVR12 results but clinical data indicated they likely completed treatment; these patients were classified as nonvirological failure because viral clearance could not be determined. In a per-protocol analysis of 590 patients with SVR12 results, SVR12 was achieved in 540 (92%), and virological failure occurred in 50 (8%). Pretreatment HCV RNA above the median split was associated with virological failure. Intention-to-treat analyses including all patients showed that SVR12 was achieved in 540 (60%), with nonvirological failure in 304 (34%) and virological failure in 50 (6%). Patients in Western Province were more likely to experience nonvirological failure than patients in Kigali, likely owing to the 5–7-hour travel required to access testing and treatment. Conclusions DAAs were effective when implemented through the Rwandan national health system. Decentralization and enhanced financing are underway in Rwanda, which could improve access to treatment and follow-up as the country prepares for HCV elimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Around 71 million people are living with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, with approximately 14% residing in sub‐Saharan Africa. Direct‐acting antiviral (DAA) therapies offer clear benefits for liver‐related morbidity and mortality, and data from high‐income settings suggest that DAA treatments also provide significant benefits in terms of health‐related quality of life (HRQL). In this study, we assessed the effect of DAA treatment on HRQL for individuals treated for HCV in a clinical trial in Rwanda. We assessed the HRQL of participants using an 83‐question composite survey at Day 0 ('baseline') and Week 24 ('endpoint'). Data were analysed in R. A total of 296 participants were included in this analysis. Their ages ranged from 19 to 90, and 184 (62.2%) were female. There were significant improvements from baseline to endpoint median scores for all physical and mental quality of life sub‐scales. Additionally, a reduction—before and after treatment—in the proportion of those classified as depressed and needing social support was statistically significant (both P <.001). Economic productivity increased after treatment (P <.001), and households classified as food secure increased from baseline to endpoint (P <.001). These results demonstrate that Rwandans with chronic HCV infection experience both clinical and HRQL benefits, including household‐level benefits like substantial gains in workforce stability, economic productivity, and poverty alleviation, from DAA treatment. A stronger demonstration of accurate and broader household‐level benefits achieved through treatment of HCV with DAAs will help financing and investment for HCV in resource‐constrained settings become an urgent priority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]