Increased mortality among persons infected with hepatitis C virus

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Long-term mortality in hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients remains poorly understood.
• Few studies have adequately controlled for confounders or analyzed age-specific mortality risks.
• Absolute risk estimates and specific causes of death in HCV cohorts are lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the long-term mortality associated with HCV infection.
• To investigate how mortality risk varies with age at diagnosis and follow-up duration.
• To identify specific causes of death in HCV-infected individuals.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 10,991 HCV patients was compared to an age- and sex-matched general population cohort in Denmark.
• Regression analysis adjusted for socioeconomic factors, psychiatric illness, comorbidities, and substance abuse.
• Causes of death and the impact of HCV on mortality were analyzed concerning age and follow-up length.

Main Results:

• HCV patients exhibited lower income, more comorbidities, psychiatric issues, and substance abuse.
• Ten-year survival rates significantly decreased with age, from 84.1% (20-29 years) to 21.1% (70+ years).
• The adjusted 18.2-fold increased mortality risk for younger HCV patients (20-29 years) was primarily due to unnatural causes, while older patients (70+ years) faced a 1.6-fold increased risk from non-liver natural causes.

Conclusions:

• Hepatitis C virus infection is linked to significantly increased long-term mortality.
• Younger HCV patients (20-29 years) are at a substantially elevated risk of death from unnatural causes.
• Mortality risk and causes of death in HCV patients are influenced by age and follow-up duration.