title: Previous exposure to HCV among persons born during 1945-1965: prevalence and predictors, United States, 1999-2008.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examined HCV exposure prevalence and predictors among persons in the United States born during 1945-1965.
  
  
  METHODS
  With data from the 1999-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, we calculated the proportion of persons born during 1945-1965 who tested positive for HCV antibody (anti-HCV) and analyzed the prevalence by sociodemographic and behavioral risk factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anti-HCV prevalence in the 1945-1965 birth cohort was 3.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.8%, 3.8%), substantially higher than among other adults (0.9%). Within the cohort, anti-HCV prevalence was higher among non-Hispanic Blacks (6.4%; 95% CI = 5.3%, 7.7%), persons with injection drug use histories (56.8%; 95% CI = 48.4%, 64.8%), and persons with elevated alanine aminotransferase levels (12.7%; 95% CI = 10.7%, 15.1%). Injection drug use (adjusted odds ratio = 98.4; 95% CI = 58.8, 164.5) was the strongest anti-HCV prevalence predictor. Among anti-HCV-positive persons, 57.8% reported having 2 or more alcoholic drinks daily.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With the high prevalence of HCV among persons born during 1945-1965, the increasing morbidity and mortality associated with HCV, and reductions in liver cancer and HCV-related mortality when HCV is eradicated, it is critically important to identify persons with HCV and link them to appropriate care.
authors.affiliation: Bryce D. Smith, Geoff A. Beckett, Deborah Holtzman, and John W. Ward are with the Division of Viral Hepatitis, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA. Anthony Yartel and Nita Patel are with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Foundation, Atlanta, GA.
authors.forename: Bryce D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Geoff A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Beckett
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yartel
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Holtzman
authors.forename: Nita
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Ward
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006306:Health Surveys; D016174:Hepacivirus; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies