A New Model of Hepatitis C with Cardiac Side Effects of Direct Acting Antivirals Treatment: A Mathematical Modeling and Numerical Simulation

Abstract

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a blood-borne infection that poses significant health risks, potentially leading to severe liver-related conditions such as liver failure, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and even death. It is a major global health concern, affecting millions of people worldwide. Traditionally, the treatment of hepatitis C has been challenging, with few alternatives and severe side effects. However, introducing direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) has revolutionized the therapeutic landscape for hepatitis C. DAAs are a relatively new class of medications directly targeting the viral proteins essential for HCV replication, offering a highly effective and safe treatment option. They have shown remarkable success rates in clearing the virus from the body, leading to the eradication of the infection in the majority of patients. Despite their efficacy, DAAs are not without potential drawbacks. One area of concern is their impact on heart health. Emerging evidence suggests that DAAs can have varying effects on cardiovascular health, with some patients experiencing adverse side effects on the heart, a phenomenon known as cardiotoxicity. Therefore, we developed a mathematical model based on hepatitis C patients, demonstrating the positivity and boundedness of the system solution. We determined the equilibrium point and assessed its stability using the Routh-Hurwitz criteria, confirming it as asymptotically stable. Finally, we conducted numerical simulations to evaluate these findings.