Hepatitis C Virus Infection in the Older Patient

• Published in: Infectious disease clinics of North America Vol. 31; no. 4; pp. 827 - 838
• Main Authors: Reid, Michael, MD, MPH, Price, Jennifer C., MD, PhD, Tien, Phyllis C., MD, MSc
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-12-2017
• Subjects: Aged; Aging; Antiviral Agents - therapeutic use; Comorbidity; HCV; Hepacivirus - physiology; Hepatitis C - complications; Hepatitis C - drug therapy; Hepatitis C - pathology; Hepatitis C - virology; Humans; Infectious Disease; Inflammation; Liver Cirrhosis - etiology; Liver Neoplasms - etiology; Middle Aged; Aging; HCV; Inflammation; Comorbidity
• ISSN: 0891-5520; 1557-9824
• DOI: 10.1016/j.idc.2017.07.014

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the most common blood-borne infection in the United States and is of concern in older adults. HCV infection is associated with not only hepatic but also extrahepatic comorbidities common to the aging patient including diabetes, kidney and cardiovascular diseases, and neurocognitive impairment. The effect of direct-acting antiviral agents to treat HCV on these outcomes is limited. This article summarizes the literature regarding the epidemiology and natural history of HCV infection; the impact of age on clinical outcomes in HCV-infected persons; and current knowledge regarding safety and efficacy of HCV treatment regimens in the older patient.