Viral hepatitis C, active component, U.S. Armed Forces, 2011-2020

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains a significant public health concern.
• Understanding HCV epidemiology within specific populations, like the U.S. military, is crucial for targeted prevention and control strategies.
• Previous studies may not reflect current trends due to evolving screening policies and case definitions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report updated incidence rates and numbers of HCV infections in active U.S. military members.
• To identify demographic and occupational factors associated with HCV infection within the military.
• To provide data for evaluating and updating military HCV screening policies.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a revised case definition for HCV infection surveillance.
• Analyzed data from active component U.S. military members over a 10-year period (2011-2020).
• Calculated incidence rates per 100,000 person-years and performed stratified analyses by demographics, occupation, and service characteristics.

Main Results:

• A total of 547 incident HCV cases were identified, with an overall incidence rate of 4.1 per 100,000 person-years.
• The HCV incidence rate significantly decreased from 4.8 in 2011 to 1.6 per 100,000 person-years in 2020.
• Higher incidence was observed in males, non-Hispanic White individuals, Navy members, healthcare occupations, the 17-19 age group, those born in 1964 or earlier, and personnel with less than 2 years of service.

Conclusions:

• HCV incidence in the active U.S. military is notably lower than in the general U.S. population and is trending downwards.
• Specific subgroups within the military exhibit higher HCV infection risks, highlighting potential areas for focused screening and prevention efforts.
• These updated findings are essential for assessing the effectiveness of current military HCV screening policies and informing future policy development.