Hepatitis C went from grueling year-long treatment to a simple cure—but many patients don’t know they have it.
Hepatitis C is a viral infection that results in inflammation of the liver and increased risk for liver failure and death. Hepatitis C is primarily transmitted through blood-to-blood contact. This most commonly occurs via sharing needles or other drug-injection equipment contaminated with infected blood. It can also be transmitted to other exposures to blood — such as tattooing, body piercing, or occupational exposures. It may also be sexually transmitted or transmitted vertically during pregnancy.
The disease is very slow in its progression and can result in few symptoms in its early years. A study published in 2024 estimated that about 1% of U.S. adults were living with Hepatitis C between 2017 and 2020. That would translate into around 2.5 million people who are infected with Hepatitis C.
Evolution of Hepatitis C Treatment
It was not too long ago that treatment for Hepatitis C involved taking medications that produced a host of unpleasant side effects. Early regimens would often include Interferon and Ribavirin, and were associated with modest results. Interferon therapy can cause symptoms including flu-like symptoms, depression, abnormal blood cell counts, and autoimmune diseases. Ribavirin can lead to anemia and is not safe for use in pregnancy. This often led to poor adherence rates and translated into poor cure rates.
Even when adherent, cure was far from certain and the duration of therapy was long. Cure rates also varied a lot between different varieties (genotypes) of the Hepatitis C virus. Fortunately, the current generation of Direct-Acting Antiviral (DAA) medications have completely changed that narrative.
With the introduction of DAA medications, patients now have access to oral medications that can be taken daily for a relatively short period of time. Some regimens can be as short as 8 weeks and have cure rates upwards of 95%. They produce few side effects and are effective across a variety of genotypes. This has revolutionized cure rates but there remain significant barriers in access to care, including cost and access to providers. A number of infected individuals simply do not know of their infection. Testing for Hepatitis C is straightforward and is the first step towards cure.
Break Down Hepatitis C Testing Barriers
Interested in offering discreet Hepatitis C testing to the population you serve? Primary.Health empowers communities, public health entities, and other large groups to administer and manage easy, accessible testing for Hepatitis C and other infectious diseases as well as a range of preventative screenings. To learn more, talk to a member of our Health Team today.
Disclaimer: This blog content and linked materials are not intended as individual medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, and should not be considered as such. Any readers with medical concerns should contact a licensed healthcare provider. This blog is provided for informational purposes only.
