Although nearly 80 percent of people in the U.S. who have hepatitis C are baby boomers, these Americans are less likely to get screened for the infection, according to The Washington Post.
The Post cited a study published March 27 in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention that showed only about 13 percent of baby boomers were tested for hepatitis C in 2015, up from 12 percent in 2013. U.S. public health authorities recommend all baby boomers — those born between 1945 and 1965 — be screened for hepatitis C, which is a major cause of liver cancer.
Researchers analyzed data from 2013 to 2015 in the National Health Interview Survey, a government survey based on household interviews, to determine whether changes in treatment options and national screening guidelines affected how often baby boomers went for screenings. During that period, the researchers found hepatitis C screening among baby boomers increased less than 1 percentage point.
Although the researchers said the study was limited by its reliance on self-reported data, they highlighted the importance of ensuring more people get tested. "If we want to make a dent in the rising rate of liver cancer, we need to get the population with a high rate of infection screened and treated," said lead study author Susan Vadaparampil, PhD.
A number of patients with hepatitis C do not experience symptoms and are not aware they are infected. Researchers are not sure why the infection rate is significantly higher in baby boomers, Dr. Vadaparampil said. However, they suspect the higher rate may be linked to past use of illicit injected drugs or other risky behaviors.
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