U.S. hepatitis C soars in those over 45

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U.S. hepatitis C soars in those over 45

The most dramatic age-specific increases [in mortality] during the

study period were observed among persons 45-54 years of age and

persons 55-64 years of age, with rates increasing 376% from 1.76 to

8.01 per 100,000 and 188% from 2.22 to 6.05 per 100,000, respectively

Published: March 25, 2008 at 6:54 PM

LOS ANGELES, March 25 (UPI) -- U.S. mortality rates for hepatitis C

in people ages 45 to 54 rose 375 percent from 1995 to 2004,

researchers said.

The findings, published in Hepatology, found hepatitis C rose in

those ages 55 to 64 rose by 188 percent during the same period.

" Substantial increases in overall hepatitis-C-related mortality rates

have occurred since 1995, " the study authors said in a

statement. " The relatively young age of persons dying from hepatitis

C-related liver disease has made hepatitis C-related disease a

leading infectious cause of years of potential life lost as well as

an important cause of premature mortality overall. "

Researchers from the University of California at Los Angeles, Los

Angeles County department of public health and the Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta analyzed mortality rates

from the U.S. Census and multiple-cause-of death data from 1995 to

2004 and found 56,409 hepatitis C related deaths.

Hepatitis C is the most common U.S. blood-borne infection affecting

about 1.3 percent of the population. Up to 1-in-5 sufferers develop

liver cirrhosis, and up to 1-in-20 develop liver cancer.

Changing trends in hepatitis C-related mortality in the United

States, 1995-2004

Wise 1 2 *§, Bialek 3, Lyn Finelli 3, Beth P. Bell

3, Sorvillo 1 2

1Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of

California, Los Angeles

2Data Collection and Analysis Unit, Office of Health Assessment and

Epidemiology, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los

Angeles, CA

3Division of Viral Hepatitis, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral

Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention, Atlanta, GA

Abstract

The disease burden and mortality from hepatitis C are predicted to

increase in the United States as the number of persons with long-

standing chronic infection grows. We analyzed hepatitis C mortality

rates derived from US Census and multiple-cause-of-death data for

1995-2004. Deaths were considered hepatitis C-related if: (1)

hepatitis C was the underlying cause of death, (2) chronic liver

disease was the underlying cause and hepatitis C was a contributing

cause, or (3) human immunodeficiency virus was the underlying cause

and chronic liver disease and hepatitis C were contributing causes. A

total of 56,409 hepatitis C-related deaths were identified. Mortality

rates increased 123% during the study period (1.09 per 100,000

persons to 2.44 per 100,000), but average annual increases were

smaller during 2000-2004 than 1995-1999. After peaking in 2002 (2.57

per 100,000), overall rates declined slightly, but continued to

increase among persons aged 55-64 years. Overall increases were

greater among males (144%) than females (81%) and among non-Hispanic

blacks (170%) and Native Americans (241%) compared to non-Hispanic

whites (124%) and Hispanics (84%). The 7,427 hepatitis C deaths in

2004 (mean age: 55 years), corresponded to 148,611 years of potential

life lost. The highest mortality rates in 2004 were observed among

males, persons aged 45-54 and 55-64 years, Hispanics, non-Hispanic

blacks, and non-Hispanic Native American/Alaska Natives. Conclusion:

Overall, hepatitis C mortality has increased substantially since

1995. Despite small declines in recent years, rates have continued to

increase among persons aged 55-64 years. Hepatitis C is an important

cause of premature mortality.