OBJECTIVE: To determine the health care follow-up and treatment associated with physician-diagnosed hepatitis C (HCV) in a community-based population. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective medical record review using records from all providers in Olmsted County, Minnesota. POPULATION: The study incorporated all Olmsted County residents with physician-diagnosed hepatitis C from 1990 through 1999. OUTCOMES MEASURED: We assessed demographic and health status information as well as health services use in subjects with physician-diagnosed HCV. RESULTS: Physicians diagnosed hepatitis C in 355 subjects (219 men [62%], 136 women [38%]), mean age 43 years, in the 10-year period studied. About half of diagnoses (45%, n = 159) were confirmed with polymerase chain reaction or liver biopsies. Identified risk factors included IV drug use (50%), multiple sex partners (36%), and blood transfusion (30%). Follow-up assessment with aspartate aminotransferase/amino alanine transferase (AST/ALT) tests occurred in about half (49%) of subjects, while 202 subjects (60%) were referred for gastrointestinal (GI) specialist evaluation and 49 patients (14% of all, 25% of those referred to a GI specialist) had specific treatment for hepatitis C. Although well over half of patients (60%) had possible contraindications to HCV treatment, including heavy alcohol use, few were referred for chemical dependency therapy. CONCLUSIONS: In this community, follow-up and treatment related to HCV were limited. Attention to prevention of disease-accelerating co- infections was only modest. Referral or documented recommendations for treatment of alcoholism or heavy chronic alcohol ingestion were minimal.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the health care follow-up and treatment associated with physician-diagnosed hepatitis C (HCV) in a community-based population. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective medical record review using records from all providers in Olmsted County, Minnesota. POPULATION: The study incorporated all Olmsted County residents with physician-diagnosed hepatitis C from 1990 through 1999. OUTCOMES MEASURED: We assessed demographic and health status information as well as health services use in subjects with physician-diagnosed HCV. RESULTS: Physicians diagnosed hepatitis C in 355 subjects (219 men [62%], 136 women [38%]), mean age 43 years, in the 10-year period studied. About half of diagnoses (45%, n = 159) were confirmed with polymerase chain reaction or liver biopsies. Identified risk factors included IV drug use (50%), multiple sex partners (36%), and blood transfusion (30%). Follow-up assessment with aspartate aminotransferase/amino alanine transferase (AST/ALT) tests occurred in about half (49%) of subjects, while 202 subjects (60%) were referred for gastrointestinal (GI) specialist evaluation and 49 patients (14% of all, 25% of those referred to a GI specialist) had specific treatment for hepatitis C. Although well over half of patients (60%) had possible contraindications to HCV treatment, including heavy alcohol use, few were referred for chemical dependency therapy. CONCLUSIONS: In this community, follow-up and treatment related to HCV were limited. Attention to prevention of disease-accelerating co- infections was only modest. Referral or documented recommendations for treatment of alcoholism or heavy chronic alcohol ingestion were minimal.
Authors: Ju Dong Yang; Bohyun Kim; Schuyler O Sanderson; Jennifer L St Sauver; Barbara P Yawn; Rachel A Pedersen; Joseph J Larson; Terry M Therneau; Lewis R Roberts; W Ray Kim Journal: Mayo Clin Proc Date: 2012-01 Impact factor: 7.616
Authors: M Lin; J Kramer; D White; Y Cao; S Tavakoli-Tabasi; S Madu; D Smith; S M Asch; H B El-Serag; F Kanwal Journal: Aliment Pharmacol Ther Date: 2017-09-26 Impact factor: 8.171
Authors: Steffanie A Strathdee; M Latka; J Campbell; P T O'Driscoll; E T Golub; F Kapadia; R A Pollini; R S Garfein; D L Thomas; H Hagan Journal: Clin Infect Dis Date: 2005-04-15 Impact factor: 9.079
Authors: Donna M Evon; Amit Verma; Karen A Dougherty; Betty Batey; Mark Russo; Steven Zacks; Roshan Shrestha; Michael W Fried Journal: Dig Dis Sci Date: 2007-03-30 Impact factor: 3.199
Authors: Lorenzo Rossaro; Christopher Aoki; Jihey Yuk; Colette Prosser; Jennifer Goforth; Frank Martinez Journal: Telemed J E Health Date: 2008-12 Impact factor: 3.536