Hepatitis C accounts for a considerable economic burden for patients and the healthcare system, but the advent of new drugs and aggressive screening tactics could bring about a significant change.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh estimate that HCV could become a rare disease as early as 2036, according to a HCP Live report. The researchers based their prediction on the combination of HCV screening at birth and the use of new, direct-acting antiviral drugs.
The number of HCV patients in the United States has already significantly declined. In 2001, there were approximately 3.2 million cases in the country. The number dropped to 2.3 million cases in 2013, according to the report.