Scope of worldwide hepatitis C problem.
1. Hepatitis C is a global health problem affecting over 170 million people worldwide. 2. There is wide geographic variation in both prevalence and genotype distribution of hepatitis C virus on a global level. 3. Most hepatitis C virus is spread parenterally, either through intravenous drug use or, in lesser-developed countries, through blood contamination during medical procedures. 4. Hepatitis C is a leading cause of end-stage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. 5. Despite a declining incidence of new infections, the burden of disease, both in terms of mortality and in terms of cost, is expected to increase over the next decade.
Department of Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, and Center for Liver Disease and Transplantation, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY 10032, USA. rb464@columbia.edu
Robert S
RS
Brown
Paul J
PJ
Gaglio
D018450:Disease Progression; D014943:Global Health; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology