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Chronic hepatitis C: an age wave of disease burden.

Publication ,  Journal Article
McHutchison, JG; Bacon, BR
Published in: Am J Manag Care
October 2005

There are at least 2.7 million individuals in the United States, most of them in their 40s and 50s, who are chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). As these infected individuals get older, about 20% will develop cirrhosis, and a significant fraction of those with cirrhosis (about 1 in 10) will then develop serious decompensated liver disease or hepatocellular carcinoma. Currently, HCV is the primary cause of death in 8000 to 12 000 people every year; the virus is also the primary reason for liver transplantation in the United States. Although the number of new cases of HCV infection has been dropping steadily since the introduction of improved blood-supply screening, the "age wave" of existing chronic HCV in baby boomers is expected to contribute to a substantial rise in morbidity, mortality, and costs over the next 2 decades. Although it is difficult to predict which HCV-infected patients will progress to serious liver disease, the availability of a combination drug regimen (peginterferon alfa plus ribavirin) that essentially "cures" the disease in more than half of treated patients now provides clinicians and pharmacists in managed care settings with the tools needed to diminish the impact of the anticipated wave of liver disease. This article reviews the epidemiology, natural history, clinical and economic burden, and screening and treatment options for HCV.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Am J Manag Care

ISSN

1088-0224

Publication Date

October 2005

Volume

11

Issue

10 Suppl

Start / End Page

S286 / S295

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Mass Screening
  • Managed Care Programs
  • Interferon Type I
  • Humans
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic
  • Health Policy & Services
  • Disease Progression
  • Cost of Illness
  • Antiviral Agents
  • 4203 Health services and systems
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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McHutchison, J. G., & Bacon, B. R. (2005). Chronic hepatitis C: an age wave of disease burden. Am J Manag Care, 11(10 Suppl), S286–S295.
McHutchison, John G., and Bruce R. Bacon. “Chronic hepatitis C: an age wave of disease burden.Am J Manag Care 11, no. 10 Suppl (October 2005): S286–95.
McHutchison JG, Bacon BR. Chronic hepatitis C: an age wave of disease burden. Am J Manag Care. 2005 Oct;11(10 Suppl):S286–95.
McHutchison, John G., and Bruce R. Bacon. “Chronic hepatitis C: an age wave of disease burden.Am J Manag Care, vol. 11, no. 10 Suppl, Oct. 2005, pp. S286–95.
McHutchison JG, Bacon BR. Chronic hepatitis C: an age wave of disease burden. Am J Manag Care. 2005 Oct;11(10 Suppl):S286–S295.

Published In

Am J Manag Care

ISSN

1088-0224

Publication Date

October 2005

Volume

11

Issue

10 Suppl

Start / End Page

S286 / S295

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Mass Screening
  • Managed Care Programs
  • Interferon Type I
  • Humans
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic
  • Health Policy & Services
  • Disease Progression
  • Cost of Illness
  • Antiviral Agents
  • 4203 Health services and systems