Aa
Deaths from HepC have Overtaken Deaths from HIV
http://www.aasld.org/lm2011/press/Pages/presssix.aspx
I believe that, within the next 5 to 10 years the cure rate will be closer to 100% and it will be a nearly painless treatment.
No offense here and its too early for me to have the riba rage, and we appreciate the optimism, but do you have data to support this? Not trying to be confrontational just very curious.
No offense here and its too early for me to have the riba rage, and we appreciate the optimism, but do you have data to support this? Not trying to be confrontational just very curious.
Thanks.
I wanted to know before forwarding this to my son and his smarty pants wife. When I said I thought HCV infection was more prevalent than HIV, they went into a long tirade about Africa.
(Despite my snarly attitude today, I adore her, smarty pants and all.)
I wanted to know before forwarding this to my son and his smarty pants wife. When I said I thought HCV infection was more prevalent than HIV, they went into a long tirade about Africa.
(Despite my snarly attitude today, I adore her, smarty pants and all.)
Yes they do orphanedhawk,there worldwide figures,but you are right in asking because the majority of those 40,000,000 Hiv positive people are from Africa.
I believe that, within the next 5 to 10 years the cure rate will be closer to 100% and it will be a nearly painless treatment. But before any of that, there needs to be a mechanism to discover the infection. Right now the majority of people who have it, don't know they have it.
Awareness is the key thing here. Can you imagine if most people with hcv were diagnosed within 5 years of infection. With this current treatment where about 80% success rate is possible, I think the data must probably change. The key thing is to diagnose hcv early to avoid fatal liver damage.
Well considering there are over 170,000,000 people around the world who have HCV compared to 40,000,000 who are Hiv positive that fact doesn,t surprise me at all.
Thanks for raising awareness. Recently in a local paper a GI wrote an article about chronic hcv infection in Los Angeles
He estimates and I'm paraphrasing ,
1 in 45 Angelenos have hcv and a full 2/3rds don't know it.
Scary. I'm glad you posted this.
He estimates and I'm paraphrasing ,
1 in 45 Angelenos have hcv and a full 2/3rds don't know it.
Scary. I'm glad you posted this.
Oh yes, I agree, that is always good to spread awerness on such important subject. I just think, that not everyone is ready to deal with it.
I am not sure what you mean. Here we publish truth even if it may be uncomfortable. If we don't show there is a problem then nothing will be done about it.
Here is the url for those who have access.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/752969?src=nl_topic
Here is the url for those who have access.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/752969?src=nl_topic
Here is a way to screen. Sorry but not everyone has access to this web site so I am copying the article here. It is from Medscape.
Novel Way to Screen Baby Boomers for Hepatitis
Sandra Yin
November 4, 2011 (National Harbor/Washington, DC) — Tying hepatitis screening to colonoscopy visits could increase diagnoses in the population that carries the most undiagnosed hepatitis C virus (HCV), according a study presented here at the American College of Gastroenterology 2011 Annual Scientific Meeting and Postgraduate Course.
When it comes to screening for chronic viral hepatitis infections, time is of the essence, explained Dawn Sears, MD, chief of hepatology at Scott & White Healthcare in Temple, Texas.
"Our window is closing," she told Medscape Medical News. Dr. Sears is also program director for the fellowship program and associate professor of medicine at Texas A&M College of Medicine.
She explained that although baby boomers account for 70% of the cases of undiagnosed HCV infection, current screening practices do not focus on that demographic. This is important because as those with HCV infection approach 60 years of age, they experience more adverse effects from interferon treatment. Plus, the rate of progression for HCV increases after 60 years.
"I feel an urgency to get out there and screen these people fast in the next 4 or 5 years so that we catch and can cure as many people as possible."
Dr. Sears and colleagues found that baby boomers are receptive to being screened for viral hepatitis during colonoscopy appointments.
Their study involved 376 outpatients, 50 to 65 years of age, who came to the Scott & White Hospital for colonoscopies over a 3-month period and agreed to take part in the study.
Participants answered questionnaires about vaccination; exposure; previous diagnoses of hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and HCV; and risk factors for chronic HBV or HCV. Before the colonoscopy, blood was collected using intravenous sites routinely placed for procedural purposes. The blood was tested for HAV and HBV antibodies, HBV surface antigen (HBsAg), and HCV antibody. Patients who tested positive for HCV antibodies were contacted for HCV polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing.
More than 36% of the 376 study participants had at least 1 risk factor for chronic hepatitis, and 8% had multiple risk factors. The most common risk factors were high-risk sexual activity and tattoos received before 2000 (accounting for 8% of patients), followed by injecting or snorting drugs (7%). Nearly two thirds (64%) of these nonurban patients had no risk factors for chronic HBV or HCV.
The researchers found 17 existing cases and 4 new cases of HCV. All 4 newly identified HCV patients complied with follow-up HCV PCR. No patients tested positive for HBsAg.
"A takeaway message is that we can screen for hepatitis in unique ways," Dr. Sears said. Patients are open to being screened for risk factors, she said. In fact, 75% of people asked agreed to participate in the study, which is remarkable.
Dr. Sears noted that reaching males is a big challenge, because they tend to avoid doctors and because 70% of the time, HCV affects men.
The researchers even debated whether to screen men in their 50s at Super Bowl parties, she said. "How can we capture these men who don't know they're at risk because of their behavior when they were 19?" she asked. The virus that has been lurking in their bloodstream for the last 30 years is not on their minds, she pointed out.
"Dr. Sears and her colleagues at Scott & White deserve enormous credit for coming up with this," said Paul Kwo, MD, FACG, professor of medicine at Indiana University in Indianapolis. They took advantage of the demographics of the HCV epidemic by inviting people in their target baby boomer demographic who had already come in for screening colonoscopies.
The vast majority of people with HCV are baby boomers who engaged in risky behavior 2 or 3 decades ago, never recognizing that they picked up viral infections, said Dr. Kwo. Approximately 75% of individuals with chronic HCV infection have not been identified, he noted, and the majority are asymptomatic. The colonoscopy represents an opportunity to screen the target demographic for HCV.
Although linking HCV screening with other annual screenings could help raise the number diagnosed, Zobair Younossi, MD, vice president of research for Inova Health System and chair of the Department of Medicine at Inova Fairfax Hospital, Virginia, told Medscape Medical News that he thinks most people with HCV infection still will not be diagnosed. He contends that the strategy in the United States to screen for HCV must change.
Dr. Younossi, who is also professor of medicine at the Inova Campus of Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine in Fairfax, noted that a study presented earlier this year at the Digestive Disease Week annual meeting showed that screening for HCV based on the "birth cohort" rather than "risk-based cohort" would be cost-effective.
Instead of screening just those with risk factors for HCV, he supports screening based on the prevalence of HCV. Screening the baby boomers for HCV in a number of different settings, including pharmacies, outpatient clinics, specialty clinics, and primary care clinics, may have a better impact, he said. "But the policy has to be adopted before you can do it."
Dr. Sears has disclosed no relevant financial relationships. Dr. Kwo reports financial relationships with BMS, Gilead, Merck, Roche, and Vertex. Dr. Younossi reports being a consultant or on the advisory board for Tibotec, Vertex, Salix, and GSK.
American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 2011 Annual Scientific Meeting and Postgraduate Course. Abstract 41. Presented October 31, 2011.
Novel Way to Screen Baby Boomers for Hepatitis
Sandra Yin
November 4, 2011 (National Harbor/Washington, DC) — Tying hepatitis screening to colonoscopy visits could increase diagnoses in the population that carries the most undiagnosed hepatitis C virus (HCV), according a study presented here at the American College of Gastroenterology 2011 Annual Scientific Meeting and Postgraduate Course.
When it comes to screening for chronic viral hepatitis infections, time is of the essence, explained Dawn Sears, MD, chief of hepatology at Scott & White Healthcare in Temple, Texas.
"Our window is closing," she told Medscape Medical News. Dr. Sears is also program director for the fellowship program and associate professor of medicine at Texas A&M College of Medicine.
She explained that although baby boomers account for 70% of the cases of undiagnosed HCV infection, current screening practices do not focus on that demographic. This is important because as those with HCV infection approach 60 years of age, they experience more adverse effects from interferon treatment. Plus, the rate of progression for HCV increases after 60 years.
"I feel an urgency to get out there and screen these people fast in the next 4 or 5 years so that we catch and can cure as many people as possible."
Dr. Sears and colleagues found that baby boomers are receptive to being screened for viral hepatitis during colonoscopy appointments.
Their study involved 376 outpatients, 50 to 65 years of age, who came to the Scott & White Hospital for colonoscopies over a 3-month period and agreed to take part in the study.
Participants answered questionnaires about vaccination; exposure; previous diagnoses of hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and HCV; and risk factors for chronic HBV or HCV. Before the colonoscopy, blood was collected using intravenous sites routinely placed for procedural purposes. The blood was tested for HAV and HBV antibodies, HBV surface antigen (HBsAg), and HCV antibody. Patients who tested positive for HCV antibodies were contacted for HCV polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing.
More than 36% of the 376 study participants had at least 1 risk factor for chronic hepatitis, and 8% had multiple risk factors. The most common risk factors were high-risk sexual activity and tattoos received before 2000 (accounting for 8% of patients), followed by injecting or snorting drugs (7%). Nearly two thirds (64%) of these nonurban patients had no risk factors for chronic HBV or HCV.
The researchers found 17 existing cases and 4 new cases of HCV. All 4 newly identified HCV patients complied with follow-up HCV PCR. No patients tested positive for HBsAg.
"A takeaway message is that we can screen for hepatitis in unique ways," Dr. Sears said. Patients are open to being screened for risk factors, she said. In fact, 75% of people asked agreed to participate in the study, which is remarkable.
Dr. Sears noted that reaching males is a big challenge, because they tend to avoid doctors and because 70% of the time, HCV affects men.
The researchers even debated whether to screen men in their 50s at Super Bowl parties, she said. "How can we capture these men who don't know they're at risk because of their behavior when they were 19?" she asked. The virus that has been lurking in their bloodstream for the last 30 years is not on their minds, she pointed out.
"Dr. Sears and her colleagues at Scott & White deserve enormous credit for coming up with this," said Paul Kwo, MD, FACG, professor of medicine at Indiana University in Indianapolis. They took advantage of the demographics of the HCV epidemic by inviting people in their target baby boomer demographic who had already come in for screening colonoscopies.
The vast majority of people with HCV are baby boomers who engaged in risky behavior 2 or 3 decades ago, never recognizing that they picked up viral infections, said Dr. Kwo. Approximately 75% of individuals with chronic HCV infection have not been identified, he noted, and the majority are asymptomatic. The colonoscopy represents an opportunity to screen the target demographic for HCV.
Although linking HCV screening with other annual screenings could help raise the number diagnosed, Zobair Younossi, MD, vice president of research for Inova Health System and chair of the Department of Medicine at Inova Fairfax Hospital, Virginia, told Medscape Medical News that he thinks most people with HCV infection still will not be diagnosed. He contends that the strategy in the United States to screen for HCV must change.
Dr. Younossi, who is also professor of medicine at the Inova Campus of Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine in Fairfax, noted that a study presented earlier this year at the Digestive Disease Week annual meeting showed that screening for HCV based on the "birth cohort" rather than "risk-based cohort" would be cost-effective.
Instead of screening just those with risk factors for HCV, he supports screening based on the prevalence of HCV. Screening the baby boomers for HCV in a number of different settings, including pharmacies, outpatient clinics, specialty clinics, and primary care clinics, may have a better impact, he said. "But the policy has to be adopted before you can do it."
Dr. Sears has disclosed no relevant financial relationships. Dr. Kwo reports financial relationships with BMS, Gilead, Merck, Roche, and Vertex. Dr. Younossi reports being a consultant or on the advisory board for Tibotec, Vertex, Salix, and GSK.
American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 2011 Annual Scientific Meeting and Postgraduate Course. Abstract 41. Presented October 31, 2011.
I agree, HCV should be part of some sort of routine screening, either yearly or every two years. I read an article in which a HCV specialist said just that. Money and expertise need to be thrown at this disease in the same manner HIV was tackled a few years ago (which slowed that disease spread). The CDC needs to change the recommendations so that people are routinely screened for HCV. By doing this, more people can seek treatment and hopefully reach SVR and not go on to liver damage, cirrhosis, or HCC. It would be cheaper in the long run, would slow the disease spread, and would save countless people from going through the consequences of not knowing they have HCV and not treating this disease early on, thus preventing progression of the disease.
all women who are within child bearing age are tested for hiv and HCV. When I was diagnoised my daughter was pregnant (great timing on my part) and her Dr. told her everyone who goes in for pregnancy blood work is tested for both. Now having said that. Why arent we all tested when we go for our yearly blood work and NOT wait for something to POP UP??? That would make sence, would it not? So here I am almost 60 found out in March and they think because I had no other surgery or iv drug use or tatoos that I got it from rhogam(sp) when I had my kids who are now 32 and 36.Think maybe everyone should start asking for it and not wait for a surprise!!!
curious,
Now that is some pretty startling news. I think we will still not get a lot of press on it, but it is disturbing. Of course, the population with the greatest exposure is getting up into their 60s and so I guess this is not unexpected. If there were signs earlier of liver damage it might be different, however most people don't know until it is too late.
frijole
Now that is some pretty startling news. I think we will still not get a lot of press on it, but it is disturbing. Of course, the population with the greatest exposure is getting up into their 60s and so I guess this is not unexpected. If there were signs earlier of liver damage it might be different, however most people don't know until it is too late.
frijole
This doesnt surprise me. I dont know If I am just a hick living our in no where, but to be honest I have never known one single soul in my life with HIV. Now I am not minimizing the disease at all, and I feel for those who are battling, just like we are with HCV. However, having said that, I can attest to knowing several people in my life , Including two deceased husbands who have died with HCV. And ..... I might add that neither one had my GT. And on the same note, I know quite a few people in my life who have also slayed the dragon on SOC.
Not at all surprised to hear this unfortunate news ,, Hopefully this will help bring more attention and honest reporting about our condition ....
Records Show Deaths Associated with Hepatitis C Have Overtaken Deaths Caused by HIV
By examining multiple-cause death records, researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have determined that deaths from viral hepatitis are insufficiently appreciated and by 2007 were exceeding reported deaths caused by HIV.Approximately 21. 8 million records were included in the study, which was presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases on Tuesday, November 8.
Those records were examined for mention of hepatitis B or C and for HIV. For the period of 1999 to 2007, deaths associated with hepatitis B remained constant, HIV declined, and hepatitis C increased –- significantly. Almost three-quarters of HCV-related deaths occurred in the 45-64 year-old age group. HIV was one of the comorbidities associated with viral hepatitis, as were chronic liver disease, other hepatitis virus, and alcohol-related conditions.
Records Show Deaths Associated with Hepatitis C Have Overtaken Deaths Caused by HIV
By examining multiple-cause death records, researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have determined that deaths from viral hepatitis are insufficiently appreciated and by 2007 were exceeding reported deaths caused by HIV.Approximately 21. 8 million records were included in the study, which was presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases on Tuesday, November 8.
Those records were examined for mention of hepatitis B or C and for HIV. For the period of 1999 to 2007, deaths associated with hepatitis B remained constant, HIV declined, and hepatitis C increased –- significantly. Almost three-quarters of HCV-related deaths occurred in the 45-64 year-old age group. HIV was one of the comorbidities associated with viral hepatitis, as were chronic liver disease, other hepatitis virus, and alcohol-related conditions.
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The principal CDC investigator of the study presented at the AASLD, Scott Holmberg, was kind enough to reply to an email I sent expressing concerns over the worsening trend in HCV illness and death rates. He believes that the new data will spur additional HCV funding.
HCV patients really need to start fighting for a fair share of CDC funding or nothing will change.