Pgi6 the Economic Burden of Advanced Liver Disease Among Patients With Hepatitis C Virus: A State Medicaid Perspective

Abstract

gender, ethnicity, marital status, educational attainment, household income, employment status, insurance possession, body mass index, exercise and smoking habits, alcohol use, and HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B status as predictors. RESULTS: Mean age was similar between hepatitis C patients who had ever initiated treatment (51.3 yrs, SDϭ11.39) and those who had not (52.0 yrs, SDϭ11.50). Patients who were married (ORϭ1.43, pϭ.004), in possession of insurance (ORϭ1.56, pϭ.003), or diagnosed with AIDS or HIV (ORϭ1.60, pϭ.05) were more likely to have initiated treatment than patients without those characteristics. No other significant differences were found. CONCLUSIONS: The current findings indicate that lack of insurance and lack of support from a partner are associated with lower odds of initiating treatment for hepatitis C. While speculative, this suggests that lack of social support and insurance may be barriers to treatment. Patients treated for hepatitis C may be more informed about their HIV/AIDS status, although conversely, patients with HIV/AIDS may be more likely to initiate therapy to avoid liver-related immunodeficiency complications. Further investigation is needed to help determine the direction of causation.