However, not many cases of hepatitis C were diagnosed. This could likely be traced to a combination of doctors not being adequately engaged, and patients in denial of their risky behaviors. To identify more cases, the CDC jettisoned its old approach and moved to a blanket recommendation to screen all adults born between and , the baby boomers. The rationale for this was that more than three out of every baby boomers were infected with HCV.
Moreover, the diagnosis of HCV in this group would identify those with long-duration chronic disease, who were at risk for the most advanced forms of liver disease. The guidelines also continue to recommend that those at high risk for other reasons be screened. Why is the prevalence of HCV so high among baby boomers? Risk factor assessments suggest that this group may have been more likely to engage in occasional or ongoing injection drug use during young adulthood, particularly in the s and s.
HCV screening is more important than ever. First, it is critical that we identify everyone with chronic HCV because they are at increased risk for early death due to liver disease. There is also mounting evidence that chronic hepatitis C is associated with increased risk for diseases outside the liver, including heart and kidney disease, as well as diabetes. In addition, recent dramatic advances in antiviral therapy allow us to cure the vast majority of HCV infections using short courses of well-tolerated oral medications.
To be sure, this goal can only be accomplished if we identify cases of existing HCV infection. Some countries are on track to achieve this target, and have done so by enacting widespread population screening campaigns coupled with access to antiviral therapy. In this article, we take a look at the link between baby boomers and hepatitis C. We also examine what the risks are, and when people should be tested for the condition. Despite the high number of baby boomers with hepatitis C in the U.
Undiagnosed hepatitis C is a significant issue, as the disease can lead to cirrhosis , liver cancer , and death. For these reasons, in , the U. Preventive Services Task Force recommended a one-time hepatitis C screening for all adults within the baby boomer age bracket. The high rate of hepatitis C among baby boomers is probably the result of some medical practices of the past.
A study published in The Lancet found that most of the spread of hepatitis C occurred roughly between and The researchers concluded that this spread likely occurred in hospitals, rather than as a result of lifestyle choices as many people thought.
Another article from the same edition of The Lancet notes that during the highest infection period from to , glass and metal syringes were commonly reused, which would provide plenty of opportunity for infection. These findings show a completely different pattern to what is seen today, where most new hepatitis C infections are linked to drug use. This number rises to 70—90 percent in older and former users. These different causes of infection between past and present explain why many baby boomers might feel stigmatized by the condition.
Some may not even consider themselves to be at risk in the first place. The stigma can cause depression and alienation, and people may be less likely to seek screening and treatment as a result.
Of this number, 20 to 40 percent go on to develop complications that can lead to liver failure and death. Since the s, when the cure rate was just 6 percent, treatment today means that the survival rate is now around 80—90 percent. However, many people might not know this fact. When it comes to baby boomers, the stigma is not only tragic in its consequences but also unjustified. Ray Rubin, M. All baby boomers are at risk for hepatitis C, but the biggest risk factors include receiving a blood transfusion prior to and intravenous or intranasal drug use.
Even one-time drug users who, for example, experimented in college could have been exposed to the virus. Hepatitis C can go undetected for decades without patients having any symptoms, but inside the body it could be causing serious liver problems. According to recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, all baby boomers should be tested for hepatitis C, regardless of risk factors.
Left untreated, hepatitis C leads to chronic liver diseases. Walk-in testing is available from a. Monday through Thursday, a. Friday, and a. Testing involves a simple blood draw and is covered by most insurance plans.
First-time patients are always welcome. Stop in or call for more information. Alan E. Gunderson, MD Gastroenterologist.
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