Epidemiology of HCV Infection

Authors: Baldo, V.; Baldovin, T.; Trivello, R.; Floreani, A.

Source: Current Pharmaceutical Design, Volume 14, Number 17, June 2008 , pp. 1646-1654(9)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

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Abstract:

It is estimated that approximately 130-170 million people worldwide are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). According to data from WHO community and blood donor surveys, the African and Eastern Mediterranean countries report the highest prevalence rates (>10%). The rates of infection in the general population and the incidence of newly-acquired cases indicate an appreciable change in the epidemiology of the infection in recent years. Prior to the widespread screening of blood donations, infected blood and blood products represented a common source of infection. On the other hand, the high peak in HCV antibodies among the elderly in Italian epidemiological studies on the population at large reflects a cohort effect due to an epidemic of HCV infection occurring after the Second World War. According to data reported by the CDC Surveillance System, the incidence of acute hepatitis C has declined since the late 1980s. In 2005, as in previous years, the majority of such cases in North America and Northern Europe occurred among young adults and injected drug use was the most common risk factor. Other, less commonly reported modes of HCV acquisition are occupational exposure to blood, high-risk sexual activity, tattooing, body piercing and other forms of skin penetration. Finally, the overall rate of mother-tochild transmission from HCV-infected, HIV-negative mothers has been estimated at around 5% (coinfection with HIV raises this figure to 19.4%). HCV prevention relies on identifying and counseling uninfected persons at risk of contracting hepatitis C.

Keywords: Hepatitis C virus; epidemiology; prevalence; incidence; high risk groups

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161208784746770

Affiliations: 1: University of Padua, Department of Surgical and astroenterological Sciences, University of Padua, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128 Padua, Italy.

Publication date: 2008-06-01

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Each thematic issue of Current Pharmaceutical Design covers all subject areas of major importance to modern drug design, including: medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, drug targets and disease mechanism.

Epidemiology of HCV Infection

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