BACKGROUND: The burden of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection peaks among two age groups, baby boomers (born 1945-1965) and millennials (born 1982-2002). Kansas incidence rates for chronic HCV for baby boomer and millennials were 130 and 39 per 100,000, respectively in 2014. Studies have explored causes for the first peak of HCV among baby boomers, however, limited research exists exploring factors attributing to the second peak among millennials. Due to the burden of HCV in Kansas, demographic and risk factor investigation is only required for cases under 25 and over 55 years old. This study examined how demographic and behavioral risk factors differed between millennials under 25 and baby boomers over 55 with chronic HCV infection in Kansas.
METHODS: Persons aged 14–24 and 55–70 years with chronic HCV reported to Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) between 01/01/2016 and 12/02/2016 were included in this study. Demographic factors (race, ethnicity, gender, age at diagnosis and county of residence) and risk factors (contact with another HCV-positive individual, type of that contact, illicit drug use, injection drug use and sharing needles) were analyzed. Records were excluded from analysis if demographic or risk factor data was unavailable. Chi-square and logistic regression were performed using SAS® 9.3.
RESULTS: A total of 731 chronic HCV cases were reported to KDHE between 01/01/2016 and 12/02/2016; 102 were millennials and 629 baby boomers. Compared to baby boomers, millennial cases had higher odds of being female (OR 2.68) and live in moderately-populated counties (OR 2.34) versus rural counties. Of the 243 cases that had risk factor data, millennials had higher odds (adjusted OR 2.48) of injection drug use compared to baby boomers. No other factors were significantly associated with these two age groups.
CONCLUSIONS: Differences in demographic characteristics, gender and population density of county, as well as risk behavior, IVDU, were identified between baby boomers and millennials with chronic HCV-infection in Kansas. These differences highlight the changing face of chronic HCV infection and the need to adjust prevention efforts to target high risk millennial populations. Efforts to work with local health departments in moderately populated counties throughout the state, focus on reducing IVDU, and target prevention messages towards women may help to lower chronic HCV infection in the millennial age group.