Hepatitis C Infection Patterns at a Tertiary Care Center in New York: A Cross-Sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection affects millions in the US, with significant mortality.
• Understanding the epidemiology of HCV is crucial for targeted prevention and healthcare strategies.
• Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH) aimed to analyze HCV infection patterns in its patient population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the occurrence patterns of HCV infection at SIUH in 2014.
• To identify demographic and genotypic characteristics of newly diagnosed HCV patients.
• To compare local findings with broader New York City (NYC) data for informed public health policy.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study of newly diagnosed HCV cases in 2014 at SIUH.
• Utilized International Classification of Disease-9 (ICD-9) codes and confirmed HCV antibody positivity via polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
• Data on age, gender, and HCV genotypes were collected and compared with the 2014 NYCDOH Report.

Main Results:

• 378 new HCV cases were identified; 60.05% were male.
• HCV genotype 1a was most prevalent (36.5%), followed by 1b (25.9%).
• The majority of cases were in the 60-69 age group (32.28%), with all patients 80+ being female.

Conclusions:

• New HCV infections at SIUH were most common in the 60-69 age group, differing from the 40-59 range in the 2014 NYC DOH Report.
• All HCV infections in patients aged 80 and above were diagnosed in women.
• Findings emphasize the need for tailored HCV screening policies, particularly for baby boomers and high-risk groups, to reduce mortality and morbidity.