Estimates of Hepatitis C Seroprevalence and Viremia in State Prison Populations in the United States.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Prior studies demonstrate that eliminating hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the United States (US) heavily depends on treating incarcerated persons. Knowing the scope of the carceral HCV epidemic by state will help guide national elimination efforts.

Methods

Between 2019 and 2023, all state prison systems received surveys requesting data on hepatitis C antibody and viremic prevalence. We supplemented survey information with publicly available HCV data to corroborate responses and fill in data gaps.

Results

Weighting HCV prevalence by state prison population size, we estimate that 15.2% of the US prison population is HCV seropositive and 8.7% is viremic; 54.9% of seropositive persons have detectable RNA. Applying prevalence estimates to the total prison population

SUBMITTER: Spaulding AC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11491819 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature