title: Chronic hepatitis C in the Hispanic/Latino population living in the United States: a literature review.
abstract: Advanced practice nurses are faced with the clinical challenge of recognizing risk factors for chronic hepatitis C, not only in the native-born population, but also in the immigrant populations in the United States. Hispanics/Latinos constitute 13% of the U.S. population and are the fastest growing minority in the United States. A greater understanding of chronic hepatitis C in this populace was accomplished by reviewing current literature in the areas of natural history, epidemiology of risk factors, screening practices, and therapy outcomes. This review serves as a foundation for the creation of a culturally competent assessment tool for the screening of chronic hepatitis C in this population. The information from the literature review suggests that Hispanics/Latinos have an overall prevalence rate for chronic hepatitis C of 2.6%; have faster liver fibrosis progression rates; are infected at an earlier age; are more likely to be HIV coinfected; and show significantly higher alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, and bilirubin levels. They also have more portal inflammation than do Caucasians and African Americans and a higher prevalence of cirrhosis than do African Americans--more so in Hispanic women than in Hispanic men. Transfusion, tattoos, and iatrogenic transfer are risk factors that need to be assessed.
authors.affiliation: Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois, USA. donnablessman@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Donna Jean
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Blessman
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000208:ethnology; D017668:Age of Onset; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D054521:Cultural Competency; D018450:Disease Progression; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D012107:Research Design; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D013653:Tattooing / Q000009:adverse effects; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D001663:Bilirubin