OBJECTIVES: to characterize the population with chronic hepatitis c and to evaluate the effectiveness of direct-action antivirals.

METHODS: a descriptive observational study was conducted with the information of each patient who received treatment for chronic hepatitis C from August 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017. The data were audited and validated with the clinical history. Adherence to treatment was monitored. Sociodemographic, administrative and clinical variables of the disease were determined that allowed to monitor patients and evaluate their results. Measures of central tendency were calculated according to the nature and distribution of the variables. The Stata v.12 program was used.

RESULTS: 1.136 patients with chronic hepatitis C infection were followed. 51.7% men. The average age was 49 (SD=16) years in men and 63 (SD=12) years in women. Co-infection with HIV occurred in 23.8% of cases. The most frequent genotype was 1b with 592 cases (52%, (49.1%-54.9% CI)), followed by type 4 with 198 cases (17.3%, (15.1%-19.5% CI)) and 1a with 150 cases (13.1%, (11.1%-15.1% CI)). The most frequent mechanism of transmission was blood transfusion (n = 376, 34.2%, (31.6%-37.2% CI)), followed by sexual transmission (n = 120, 10.9%, (9.6%-13.2% CI)). The prevalence of fibrosis was 45.7% (42.8%-48.6% CI). An effectiveness of 96.1% (95.3%-97.5% IC) was identified in all patients who received treatment with direct-acting antivirals.

CONCLUSIONS: the direct-acting antivirals have met the effectiveness expected in the treatment for chronic hepatitis c. The strategy of centralized purchase of high-cost medicines has improved access to treatment and the consequent cure of patients with hepatitis c and allows a contribution to the sustainability of the health system.