Health Alert: Hepatitis C Testing for Baby Boomers

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends adults born during 1945-1965 should receive one-time testing for the hepatitis C virus (HCV).  For these reasons:

• National data show this age group has a 5 times higher prevalence of the infection than other adults, and the age group makes us 75% of all those who have the disease
   
• HCV is the leading cause of liver transplants and liver cancer
  
• A high proportion of those infected are unaware
  
• Treatment can halt disease progression and provide a virologic cure in most infected persons

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc.
Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics
(661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com
5060 California Ave., #170
Bakersfield, CA 93309

FDA Approves Breakthrough Hepatitis C Drug

For most of the last 20 years, the standard treatment for hepatitis C involved a grueling year-long program of oral and intravenous medications that caused nausea, fever, headaches and cured fewer than half of patients.  Then, in 2011, two new drugs were approved that raised the cure rate to about 65-75%, when combined with the older treatments.

Hepatitis C Symptoms

Between 3 million and 4 million Americans are estimated to carry the blood-borne virus, though most do not even know they are infected.  Others have tested positive but are waiting for more effective treatments to become available.  Hepatitis C symptoms may not appear until two or three decades after infection, though the virus can cause liver failure, cirrhosis and cancer if left untreated.  An estimated 15,000 people in the U.S. die each year from the disease.

The federal government is urging all baby boomers (those born between 1945 and 1965) to be tested.

Treatments for Hepatitis C

The newly approved medication is taken orally once a day for twelve weeks in combination with the older oral and injectable treatment.  Studies have shown this new medication increases the cure to as high as 90%.

As found in HUFFPOST HEALTHY LIVING.

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

Health Alert: Hepatitis C Testing for Baby Boomers

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends adults born during 1945-1965 should receive one-time testing for the hepatitis C virus (HCV).  For these reasons:

• national data show this age group has a 5 times higher prevalence of the infection than other adults, and the age group makes up 75% of all those who have the disease
• HCV is the leading cause of liver transplants and liver cancer.
• a high proportion of those infected are not aware
• treatment can halt disease progression and provide a virologic cure in most infected persons.

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

Baby Boomers and Hepatitis C

More Americans now die as a result of hepatitis C infection than from HIV related causes.  An estimated 3.2 million Americans are infected with hepatitis C, which can lead to liver cancer.  About two-thirds of those are baby boomers, born between 1945 and 1964.  While 1 in 33 Americans born during that period are infected, at least half don't know because screening is rare.  The disease is commonly spread through contact with contaminated blood, but is usually diagnosed decades later, when routine blood tests uncover liver damage caused by the virus over time.  Conventional treatment include pegylated interferon and ribavirin.  Two new protease inhibitors have been shown to be highly effective in eliminating the virus in people with less-advanced liver disease.  As with any treatment, early diagnosis means greater treatment success. 

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

How Baby Boomers and Hepatitis C are Related

Baby Boomer Fact

The CDC has published a fact sheet on Hepatitis C. More than 75% of adults with Hepatitis C are baby boomers, born between 1945 and 1965.  Most of them do not know they are infected.

Five Facts

• baby boomers are five times more likely to be infected
• liver disease and cancer, and Hepatitis C deaths are rising
• as baby boomers age, the chances of development are greater
• testing will facilitate lifesaving care and treatment
• early diagnosis can  prevent liver disease

How Hepatitis C Can Lurk

Infection with the Hepatitis C virus can cause no symptoms and people can live with an infection
for many years.  It can be successfully treated with medication.

Learn more at: CDC.gov

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., 
Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics
(661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com
5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309