H-what? What is it?

ASKNOD members are already well aware that HCV now kills more people than HIV.  This study of data from U.S. recorded deaths held some surprises for me.   Standardized death certificates have two parts and utilize the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes.  Part 1 gives the immediate cause of death. Part 2, the contributing/underlying causes of death.  Four main co-morbid conditions were examined: HBV, HCV, chronic liver diseases, alcohol-related illnesses.

Some findings:

• About 50% of liver cancer deaths (18,910) in 2010 were associated with HCV.
• National serum surveys indicate about 3.2 million persons in the United
  States are living with chronic HCV.
• When cause of death was listed as HBV and chronic liver disease, it was strongly associated with these co-morbid conditions in this order: HCV, then HIV, then alcoholic -related illnesses.
• When cause of death was HCV and chronic liver disease, it was strongly associated with these co-morbid conditions in this order: HBV, alcoholic-related illnesses, then HIV.
• At the time of death, the researchers estimate that 40%-50% of the decedents with HCV infection were not diagnosed with it.
• 75% of known HCV-related deaths are in the 46-65 year old age group.
• Only 44% of deaths among HCV-infected persons were attributed to HCV.  Yet almost all of deaths among HIV-infected persons were attributed to HIV.

• If someone had HIV and HCV, HIV was listed as cause of death.  HIV is given a priority in reporting cause of death, a bias.
• It is not always easy to assign cause of death to persons with HCV, HBV, and HIV or any combination of them.
• Viral hepatitis deaths are under-reported on death certificates and thus inaccurate when compared to death data for HIV infections.
• There has been no improvement in recognizing viral hepatitis deaths which have reached epidemic proportions.

We’ll deal with the bad stuff next month.

The earlier we start routine testing for the major known lethal viruses, the healthier our American families will be.  Having one of these infections is bad enough for our bodies to fight, but two or three? Public health officials must be too busy planning their next Orlando  party to plan testing clinics.

At least with an Obamacare plan, boomers can receive one free HCV test beginning in 2014. (I don’t know about free HBV and HIV tests.)  In 2007, only 36% of all adults in the U. S. have been tested for HIV, a truly pathetic number. Why such a low percentage? I believe stigma remains the number one mental/emotional barrier because the government continues to target testing services to people who engage in “risky” behaviors.  The Hepatitis C Action Plan is still presented as a side issue on the flashy AIDS website, instead of being front and center as the biggest killer.  It’s illogical. It’s political. It’s all wrong.