Monday, October 22, 2018

Hepatitis C Virus in Women of Childbearing Age, Pregnant Women, and Children

Of Interest
Recent increases in hepatitis C among women of child-bearing age have led public health advocates to call for universal HCV screening in all pregnant women, regardless of reported risk factors. Read our new fact sheet for an overview of the reasons why HCV screening should be expanded. 
View and download the fact sheet here.

The American Journal of Preventive Medicine
Am J Prev Med. 2018 Nov;55(5):633-641. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2018.05.029.
Hepatitis C Virus in Women of Childbearing Age, Pregnant Women, and Children.
Schillie SF1, Canary L2, Koneru A2, Nelson NP2, Tanico W3, Kaufman HW4, Hariri S2, Vellozzi CJ2.
Full-text article online:
https://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(18)31945-7/fulltext
Download PDF
https://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(18)31945-7/pdf

This study identified trends in hepatitis C virus testing and positivity in women of childbearing age, pregnant women, and children aged less than 5 years. Among women who delivered live births in 2015, hepatitis C virus–infected women were more likely to be aged 20–29 years, white, non-Hispanic, covered by Medicaid, and living in rural areas. From 2011 to 2016, hepatitis C virus testing increased by 39% among women of childbearing age, 135% in pregnant women, and 25% among children. Hepatitis C virus positivity increased by 36% among women of childbearing age, 39% in pregnant women, and 13% among children. 

Abstract
INTRODUCTION:
Perinatal transmission is an increasingly important mode of hepatitis C virus transmission. The authors characterized U.S. births among hepatitis C virus-infected women and evaluated trends in hepatitis C virus testing and positivity in women of childbearing age, pregnant women, and children aged less than 5years.

METHODS:
In 2017, National Center for Health Statistics birth certificate data (48 states and District of Columbia) were analyzed to assess the number of hepatitis C virus-infected women delivering live births in 2015, and commercial laboratory data were analyzed to assess hepatitis C virus testing and positivity among women of childbearing age, pregnant women, and children aged <5years from 2011 to 2016.

RESULTS:
In 2015, a total of 0.38% (n=14,417) of live births were delivered by hepatitis C virus-infected women. Births delivered by hepatitis C virus-infected women, compared with births overall, occurred more often in women who were aged 20-29years (60.7% vs 50.9%); white, non-Hispanic (80.2% vs 52.8%); covered by Medicaid or other government insurance (79.2% vs 43.9%); and had rural residence (26.0% vs 14.0%). From 2011 to 2016 laboratory data, among women of childbearing age, hepatitis C virus testing increased by 39%, from 6.1% to 8.4%, and positivity increased by 36%, from 4.4% to 6.0%. Among pregnant women, hepatitis C virus testing increased by 135%, from 5.7% to 13.4%, and positivity increased by 39%, from 2.6% to 3.6%. Among children, hepatitis C virus testing increased by 25%, from 0.47% to 0.59%, and positivity increased by 13%, from 3.6% to 4.0%.

CONCLUSIONS:
The potential for perinatal hepatitis C virus transmission exists. Expanded hepatitis C virus testing guidelines may address the burden of disease in this population.

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