Hepatitis C virus infection in USA: an estimate of true prevalence

[Guest guest]

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1478-3231.2011.02494.x/abstract

Hepatitis C virus infection in USA: an estimate of true prevalence

Chak1, H. Talal2, E. Sherman3, Eugene R. Schiff4, Sammy

Saab5Article first published online: 15 MAR 2011

DOI: 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2011.02494.x

© 2011 Wiley & Sons A/S

Issue

Liver International

Early View (Articles online in advance of print)

Abstract

The recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) sampled

only the civilian, non-institutionalized population of USA and may have

underestimated the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in this country. We

searched the database MEDLINE, the Bureau of Justice Statistics, Center for

Medicare and Medicaid and individual states Department of Corrections for all

epidemiological studies regarding the prevalence of HCV in populations not

sampled by the NHANES survey namely the incarcerated, homeless, nursing home

residents, hospitalized and those on active military duty. Because of their

relatively low frequency in the NHANES sample, we also expanded our search to

include healthcare workers and long-term dialysis patients. Although included in

the NHANES sample, we also performed searches on drug users (injection and

non-injection) and veterans to confirm the findings of the NHANES study. Based

on the prevalence of studies identified meeting our inclusion criteria, our most

conservative estimates state that there at least 142 761 homeless persons, 372

754 incarcerated persons and 6805 persons on active military duty unaccounted

for in the NHANES survey. While the NHANES estimates of drug users (both

injection and non-injection) appear to be reasonable, the survey seems to have

underestimated the number of HCV-positive veterans. Our most conservative

estimates suggest that there are at least 5.2 million persons living with HCV in

USA today, approximately 1.9 million of whom were unaccounted for in the NHANES

survey.

[Guest guest]

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1478-3231.2011.02494.x/abstract

Hepatitis C virus infection in USA: an estimate of true prevalence

Chak1, H. Talal2, E. Sherman3, Eugene R. Schiff4, Sammy

Saab5Article first published online: 15 MAR 2011

DOI: 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2011.02494.x

© 2011 Wiley & Sons A/S

Issue

Liver International

Early View (Articles online in advance of print)

Abstract

The recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) sampled

only the civilian, non-institutionalized population of USA and may have

underestimated the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in this country. We

searched the database MEDLINE, the Bureau of Justice Statistics, Center for

Medicare and Medicaid and individual states Department of Corrections for all

epidemiological studies regarding the prevalence of HCV in populations not

sampled by the NHANES survey namely the incarcerated, homeless, nursing home

residents, hospitalized and those on active military duty. Because of their

relatively low frequency in the NHANES sample, we also expanded our search to

include healthcare workers and long-term dialysis patients. Although included in

the NHANES sample, we also performed searches on drug users (injection and

non-injection) and veterans to confirm the findings of the NHANES study. Based

on the prevalence of studies identified meeting our inclusion criteria, our most

conservative estimates state that there at least 142 761 homeless persons, 372

754 incarcerated persons and 6805 persons on active military duty unaccounted

for in the NHANES survey. While the NHANES estimates of drug users (both

injection and non-injection) appear to be reasonable, the survey seems to have

underestimated the number of HCV-positive veterans. Our most conservative

estimates suggest that there are at least 5.2 million persons living with HCV in

USA today, approximately 1.9 million of whom were unaccounted for in the NHANES

survey.

[Guest guest]

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1478-3231.2011.02494.x/abstract

Hepatitis C virus infection in USA: an estimate of true prevalence

Chak1, H. Talal2, E. Sherman3, Eugene R. Schiff4, Sammy

Saab5Article first published online: 15 MAR 2011

DOI: 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2011.02494.x

© 2011 Wiley & Sons A/S

Issue

Liver International

Early View (Articles online in advance of print)

Abstract

The recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) sampled

only the civilian, non-institutionalized population of USA and may have

underestimated the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in this country. We

searched the database MEDLINE, the Bureau of Justice Statistics, Center for

Medicare and Medicaid and individual states Department of Corrections for all

epidemiological studies regarding the prevalence of HCV in populations not

sampled by the NHANES survey namely the incarcerated, homeless, nursing home

residents, hospitalized and those on active military duty. Because of their

relatively low frequency in the NHANES sample, we also expanded our search to

include healthcare workers and long-term dialysis patients. Although included in

the NHANES sample, we also performed searches on drug users (injection and

non-injection) and veterans to confirm the findings of the NHANES study. Based

on the prevalence of studies identified meeting our inclusion criteria, our most

conservative estimates state that there at least 142 761 homeless persons, 372

754 incarcerated persons and 6805 persons on active military duty unaccounted

for in the NHANES survey. While the NHANES estimates of drug users (both

injection and non-injection) appear to be reasonable, the survey seems to have

underestimated the number of HCV-positive veterans. Our most conservative

estimates suggest that there are at least 5.2 million persons living with HCV in

USA today, approximately 1.9 million of whom were unaccounted for in the NHANES

survey.

[Guest guest]

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1478-3231.2011.02494.x/abstract

Hepatitis C virus infection in USA: an estimate of true prevalence

Chak1, H. Talal2, E. Sherman3, Eugene R. Schiff4, Sammy

Saab5Article first published online: 15 MAR 2011

DOI: 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2011.02494.x

© 2011 Wiley & Sons A/S

Issue

Liver International

Early View (Articles online in advance of print)

Abstract

The recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) sampled

only the civilian, non-institutionalized population of USA and may have

underestimated the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in this country. We

searched the database MEDLINE, the Bureau of Justice Statistics, Center for

Medicare and Medicaid and individual states Department of Corrections for all

epidemiological studies regarding the prevalence of HCV in populations not

sampled by the NHANES survey namely the incarcerated, homeless, nursing home

residents, hospitalized and those on active military duty. Because of their

relatively low frequency in the NHANES sample, we also expanded our search to

include healthcare workers and long-term dialysis patients. Although included in

the NHANES sample, we also performed searches on drug users (injection and

non-injection) and veterans to confirm the findings of the NHANES study. Based

on the prevalence of studies identified meeting our inclusion criteria, our most

conservative estimates state that there at least 142 761 homeless persons, 372

754 incarcerated persons and 6805 persons on active military duty unaccounted

for in the NHANES survey. While the NHANES estimates of drug users (both

injection and non-injection) appear to be reasonable, the survey seems to have

underestimated the number of HCV-positive veterans. Our most conservative

estimates suggest that there are at least 5.2 million persons living with HCV in

USA today, approximately 1.9 million of whom were unaccounted for in the NHANES

survey.