Promoting Awareness of Hepatitis C in Burlington, Vermont’s Homeless Population

LaPenta, Catherine M.

Item

Promoting Awareness of Hepatitis C in Burlington, Vermont’s Homeless Population

LaPenta, Catherine M.

License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Abstract

Chronic Hepatitis C infection is the leading cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer and the most common reason for liver transplantation in the United States. Most Hep C + patients are unaware that they are infected. Chronic HCV infection represents a huge public health and financial burden. While about 1% of the general U.S. population is HCV+, the prevalence is as high as 41.7% in some homeless populations in the U.S. Awareness of Hep C is low and Vermont’s homeless patients who are HCV+ are likely severely underdiagnosed and undertreated.