Hep C population

[48weeks]

I've cut and paste some text below from the CDC.  I guess I just assumed a lot more people than this had the disease. In this forum alone, there seems to be boatloads of people using Olysio and Sovaldi and also both by themselves. With these numbers it just doesn't seem like there is going to be this mass histeria of people breaking down their Dr's office doors when Ledipasvir comes out like so many insurance companies would have you believe.

An estimated 3.2 million people in the United States are living with chronic hepatitis C infection, and most don't feel ill or know they are infected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

[Idyllic]

I too am really curious how the CDC arrived at such low numbers.

In the side margin that articles has:

A new estimate finds 500 000 fewer cases of chronic hepatitis C infection in the United States compared with previous estimates of prevalence. The authors suggest higher than expected death rates among infected individuals may be responsible


It also  says
Whether this decline in numbers of infected people is real or not, there are still millions of people infected with hepatitis C,” said Holmberg.  “This emphasizes the urgency of getting people tested, into care and treated.”

Both the old and new estimates likely underestimate the total prevalence of chronic HCV infection in the United States. NHANES does not include homeless individuals or those in prison, who are known to have high rates of HCV infection.


and mentions a

new study found higher rates of chronic HCV infection among individuals aged 40 to 59 years, those who are black, and those with lower income and education

[flyinlynn]

Hi nan

I guess I was lucky. Mine was caught early because I used to donate blood. I found out from the blood bank otherwise I guess I would not have know till I developed edema a couple of years ago and by then I already had cirrhosis.

The knowledge didn't really help me tho as I was a null responder to everything just meant I couild hear my time bomb ticking.

Hoping it is quiet now should here in about 3 weeks when I get my 12 weeks post treatment results back.

Best to all,
Lynn

[hepcandme]

Nan, that time bomb has always been something that troubles me. We are so fortunate to be intelligent and curious and internet savvy

How is your husband now that his treatment is completed? I hope he is feeling better and you too

[nan535]

"An estimated 3.2 million people in the United States are living with chronic hepatitis C infection, and most don't feel ill or know they are infected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). "

My husband had Hep C for 31 years before he found out he had it. He didn't feel ill until he started having symptoms of decompensated cirrhosis - HE, esophageal varices, edema in his stomach and feet.  The point is many of those people who don't know they have it may in fact have advancing liver disease like a ticking time bomb...

Nan

[Idyllic]

Here's this in relation to those stats from the CDC (since the number estimated is lower than previously cited)

Estimate of US Individuals Living With Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection Sharply Reduced, Possibly Due to Deaths

http://newsatjama.jama.com/2014/03/03/estimate-of-us-individuals-living-with-chronic-hepatitis-c-virus-infection-sharply-reduced-possibly-due-to-deaths/

[orphanedhawk]

I wonder how numbers are arrived upon when so many people have no idea they have the virus.