From the Editor’s desk...: May 2016

Abstract

Selection of the month Urgent need to increase awareness and screening programs for HCV infection Reliable data about the population-based prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-induced cirrhosis are unavailable for most countries. Udompap et al. addressed this question by determining the cirrhosis prevalence using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which contains a population generalizable to the entire United States households. The authors also raised the important question of whether awareness of the infection impacts cirrhosis prevalence. While the overall prevalence of HCV infection has decreased over time from 1.5% in 1988-94 (Era 1), to 1.2% in 1999–2006 (Era 2), and then to 1.0 in 2007–12 (Era 3), the proportion of HCV patients with cirrhosis has more than doubled during the study period reaching 17% in the latest era. Most importantly, cirrhosis prevalence in patients unaware of their infection was as high as in those with established HCV diagnosis. The study emphasizes the need for implementing HCV awareness and screening programs for primary prevention of cirrhosis and its complication.