Summary

Introduction

• HCV is a major bloodborne human pathogen affecting approximately 1% of the global population^{[WHO 2017]}
• The most important route of transmission in developed countries is injection drug use
• If untreated, most acute infections progress to chronic infection and liver disease
• Progression to advanced liver disease and HCC is influenced by several cofactors, the most important being alcohol abuse and metabolic syndrome^{[Alberti 2009]}
• Aging of the currently infected population is expected to result in significant increases in the incidence of HCV-related cirrhosis and HCC

Epidemiology of Hepatitis C Virus

Overview of Global Epidemiology
• Prevalence rates of HCV in very low endemicity countries vary greatly from those in highly endemic areas where rates of infection are as high as 10% (Figure 1)[...

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