Epidemiology of hepatitis C virus infection in a large Israeli health maintenance organization. Issue 6 (18th November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Weil, Clara; Nwankwo, Chizoba; Friedman, Mira; Kenet, Gabriel; Chodick, Gabriel; Shalev, Varda
• Is Part Of: Journal of medical virology. Volume 88:Issue 6(2016)
• Page Start: 1044
• Page End: 1050
• Publication Date: 2015-11-18
• Subjects: prevalence -- incidence -- HCV genotype -- antiviral therapy -- comorbidities -- healthcare utilization; Virology -- Periodicals; 616
• DOI: 10.1002/jmv.24426
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0146-6615

Abstract

Abstract : Hepatitis C affects an estimated 130 million people worldwide and is a major cause of chronic liver disease. This retrospective database study aims to describe the epidemiology of HCV‐infected patients in Maccabi Healthcare Services, a 2‐million‐member health maintenance organization in Israel. HCV was identified by cross‐linking diagnoses, laboratory data, and dispensed HCV treatment (1993–2013). The point‐prevalence of HCV in 2012 and annual incidence of newly‐diagnosed HCV during 2003–2012 (index period) were calculated. The age‐adjusted prevalence of HCV was 5.19/1, 000 population (n = 10, 648). The highest prevalence was found among males and in patients aged 35–54 years. Two thirds of HCV‐infected patients were immigrants from the former Soviet Union (FSU). HCV genotype 1 was predominant (67%). A total of 6, 150 patients were newly diagnosed with HCV infection during the index period. The age‐standardized rate of newly‐diagnosed HCV declined from over 50/100, 000 (2003) to 15/100, 000 (2012). This rate was highest in males from the FSU, particularly for birth cohorts in 1950–70. The study results suggest that the reported incidence of HCV infection in Israel is declining, while prevalence is particularly high among FSU immigrants and genotype 1 is predominant. As the HCV treatment landscape evolves, these estimates can inform future studies and health technology assessments. J. Med. Virol. 88:1044–1050, 2016 . © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.