Hepatitis C a major threat to baby boomers
Those born between 1945 and 1975 should seek testing, writes Daryl Luster
As president of the Pacific hepatitis C Network, I’d like to expand on our organization’s thoughts on the new generation of hepatitis C treatments to build on the April 16 Vancouver Sun story, Pricey hep C meds an issue.
We passionately believe the new treatment options are true game-changers. We now have the tools to eliminate hepatitis C in British Columbia within a generation. The disease is one of the five major causes of infectious illness deaths in the world, along with malaria, TB, HIV, and hepatitis B.
The B.C. government has been a leader in providing access to these new therapies and deserves to be congratulated. Previous treatments were at best half as effective and took, in most cases, up to four times as long to clear the virus, while forcing people with hepatitis C to endure months of painful, lifealtering side effects, with a treatment which may or may not work. These new treat- ments are game-changers given the more than 95 per cent cure rates and fewer side effects. By targeting the sickest patients first, pressures on the Pharmacare budget can be managed. In fact, by treating people with hepatitis C now, significant future health care costs will be alleviated.
Hepatitis C is a major threat to people born between 1945 and 1975 because as they age they have 20 times higher risk than the general population of dying from liver disease and liver cancer. Canada will experience a significant increase in cases of advanced hepatitis C-related liver disease over the next 20 years and related health care costs will also increase dramatically, mainly due to cirrhosis and its complications including liver cancer and the need for liver transplantation. The costs of not treating hepatitis C are substantial.
While new treatments can’t immediately repair a person’s damaged liver, they can clear the hepatitis C virus from the person’s system and allow them to begin the path to healthy liver recovery. Such recovery is impossible while infected with hepatitis C. Someone is not going to try to fix their oven while the kitchen is on fire — they need to put out the fire first.
Often heralded as a “silent epidemic” because of its few or asymptomatic characteristics, HCV seriously affects the liver and can be difficult to treat. In fact, many Canadians living with HCV are unaware of their infection, primarily within the baby boomer demographic but also those in other groups impacted by the virus.
Asymptomatic hepatitis C infection does not mean that the person is well and free from liver disease and its progression.
Some people only feel sick when their liver is at a late stage of liver disease due to hepatitis C. And, some people feel ill and unable to maintain a regular lifestyle but have normal liver tests.
All of which highlights the importance of implementing hepatitis C screening processes across the nation.
That is why we join other voices in the Hep C community in calling for one-time screening for hepatitis C for baby boomers (those born 1945-1975). If you are a baby boomer and don’t know if you have hepatitis C, think about asking your doctor or public health nurse for the hep C test. It’s a simple blood test. And if you want the test, INSIST. Being born between 1945 and 1975 is the risk. That is all you, or your doctor, needs to know. Remember, you can have the virus and not know it. And if you do know you have the virus, make sure to have regular liver tests done to keep track of your liver health.
I am glad to see one more person gets to see her grandchild grow up due to the help of new treatments.