Prevalence and Characteristics of Chronic Hepatitis C Among Asian Americans Are Distinct From Other Ethnic Groups

Goal: The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence and characteristics of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) among Asian Americans compared with other ethnicities. Background: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) affects an estimated 2.7 million in the United States, but there are limited data on HCV among Asian Americans. Study: A total of 3,369,881 adults over the age of 18 who were patients of the integrated health care system in Southern California and 4903 Asian participants at community hepatitis screenings were included in a cross-sectional study. Variables included HCV serology, HCV genotype, comorbidities, and coinfections. Results: The prevalence of CHC was 1.3% in the general population (8271 adults) and 0.6% among Asians. The prevalence of CHC was significantly higher in the 1945-1965 birth cohort with 2.7% (5876) in the general population and 1.0% (313) among Asians (P
Source: Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology - Category: Gastroenterology Tags: Liver, Pancreas & Biliary Tract: Original Articles Source Type: research