Hepatitis C prevalence reaches 2% of US population:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
Hepatitis C has become the most chronic blood borne infection in the US with prevalence reaching 1.8% of the population, according to the country's third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The survey, reported in the August 19 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, indicates that 3.9 million people have hepatitis C infection with almost 70% of this figure chronically infected. The strongest factors associated with infection are illegal drug use and high-risk sexual behaviour. Between 8,000 and 10,000 deaths occur annually from liver complications associated with hepatitis C, says the survey.