title: Association of hepatitis C virus infection with risk of ESRD: a population-based study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The association between chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) has been widely debated.
  
  
  METHODS
  National population-based cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Insurance claims data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database in 2000-2005.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chronic HCV infection as defined by the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ESRD as defined by the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 6,291 adults with chronic HCV infection. The control group included 31,455 sex- and age-matched individuals without evidence of chronic hepatitis. The incidence of ESRD was 2.14-fold higher in patients with chronic HCV infection (HR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.17-2.01; P = 0.002) than in patients without HCV infection. Age stratification analysis showed that patients aged 50-59 years with chronic HCV infection (HR, 7.77; 95% CI, 4.23-14.3; P < 0.001) had the highest risk of developing ESRD relative to patients aged 20-49 years without chronic HCV infection (interaction P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lack of clinical data.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with chronic HCV infection are at greater risk of developing ESRD than individuals without chronic HCV infection. In addition, the risk of developing ESRD is highest in younger patients with HCV infection. Early renal screening programs should be initiated for this high-risk group of young individuals with chronic HCV infection.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, College of Public Health and Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Fu-Hsiung
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Chien-Tien
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Shih-Ni
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Pei-Chun
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Fung-Chang
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: Cheng-Chieh
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chih-Ching
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Yeh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult