Previous exposure to HCV among persons born during 1945-1965: Prevalence and predictors, United States, 1999-2008

B.D. Smith, G.A. Beckett, A. Yartel, D. Holtzman, N. Patel and J.W. Ward

American Journal of Public Health, 2014, vol. 104, issue 3, 474-481

Abstract: Objectives. We examined HCV exposure prevalence and predictors among persons in the United States born during 1945-1965. Methods. With data from the 1999-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, we calculated the proportion of persons born during 1945-1965 who tested positive for HCV antibody (anti-HCV) and analyzed the prevalence by sociodemographic and behavioral risk factors. Results. Anti-HCV prevalence in the 1945-1965 birth cohort was 3.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.8%, 3.8%), substantially higher than among other adults (0.9%). Within the cohort, anti-HCV prevalence was higher among non- Hispanic Blacks (6.4%; 95% CI = 5.3%, 7.7%), persons with injection drug use histories (56.8%; 95% CI = 48.4%, 64.8%), and persons with elevated alanine aminotransferase levels (12.7%; 95% CI = 10.7%, 15.1%). Injection drug use (adjusted odds ratio = 98.4; 95% CI = 58.8, 164.5) was the strongest anti-HCV prevalence predictor. Among anti-HCV-positive persons, 57.8% reported having 2 or more alcoholic drinks daily. Conclusions. With the high prevalence of HCV among persons born during 1945-1965, the increasing morbidity and mortality associated with HCV, and reductions in liver cancer and HCV-related mortality when HCV is eradicated, it is critically important to identify persons with HCV and link them to appropriate care.

Keywords: hepatitis C antibody, adult; aged; article; cohort analysis; confidence interval; female; forecasting; health survey; hepatitis C; Hepatitis C virus; human; isolation and purification; male; middle aged; nutrition; prevalence; risk factor; United States, Adult; Aged; Cohort Studies; Confidence Intervals; Female; Forecasting; Health Surveys; Hepacivirus; Hepatitis C; Hepatitis C Antibodies; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Nutrition Surveys; Prevalence; Risk Factors; United States (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2013.301549_2

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301549

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