Research from University of Pisa Reveals New Findings on Hepatitis (Evaluating hepatitis C cascade of care surveillance system in Tuscany, Italy, through a population retrospective data-linkage study, 2015-2021).

A recent study conducted by the University of Pisa examined the impact of Direct-Acting Antivirals (DAAs) on Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) testing, treatment trends, and access to care in Tuscany, Italy. The study found that there was a significant increase in HCV tests in 2017 due to universal access to treatment. However, the target of treating 6,221 patients annually was not met, and services declined after 2018, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The study also highlighted the need for decentralized HCV models and alternative testing strategies, particularly for populations accessing harm reduction services, communities, and prisons. The findings underscore the importance of the national HCV elimination strategy and the need for improved data collection to accurately monitor progress and inform future interventions. [Extracted from the article]