Information:
Notice: Website under construction,
 

"Test The Rest" Campaign
Vietnam Era Veterans Hepatitis C Testing Enhancement Act
Action Needed!!
 
Jetguns- Bringing down hep-c
American Legion Post 1619 is urging all Vietnam vets to get tested

 
Jet guns should be a recognized risk factor for hepatitis C
By PAUL HARASIM / RJ
A number of veterans as well as doctors now believe that Vietnam veterans...could have contracted hepatitis C through unsafe jet gun vaccinations.


 
Forget stigma, boomers: Get tested for hepatis C
By PAUL HARASIM / RJ
While it’s possible the government’s position on transmission of hepatitis C among boomers may have resulted in less testing, it’s critical today boomers forget any fears of stigma and get the easy blood test.
 
Newsweek-
VA's Hepatitis C Problem    
By Gerard Flynn

 
Orange Count Registry
Vietnam vets blame 'jet guns' for their hepatitis C
By Lily Leung Feb. 14, 2016 
 

By Judith Graham
VA Extends New Hepatitis C Drugs to All Veterans in Its Health System

 

 
Denied Hep C VA dental care?
Please click here

 
Dried Hepatitis C Blood Exposure 11/23/2013 Weeks later inconspicuous blood transmits virus and more likely to cause accidental exposures to Hep C
 

Lack of Standards
Mass Vaccinations
1970 Jetgun Nursing Instructions
 

2014 AASLD Study Hepatitis C not an STD

Home
Documentation & Surveillance Alerts
Military Hepatitis History  
Understanding The Liver 
VA Flow Sheet for Cirrhosis
VA Defines Risk Factors
 
Hep C & Pro-Prebiotic
Need to know-Grassroots Research
 
Blog Another12Weeks
One Vets' Journey Though Treatment
 

 Ask NOD
 What Would Veterans Do?
Blog for VA Claims
 

HadIt.com Members Forum
Help with VA Claims
 


 
Info: Plan Backfires-
VBA Fast Letter Boost Claims
 
Disability Ratings
Does Your Medical Record Show Hep C Related Diseases?
The Liver and Hepatitis C

 
Legal- Fed Regs state:
Judge decision may be relied upon
Cotant v. Principi, 17 Vet.App. 116, 134 (2003),
 
Service Connected Claims
# 1 Conclusion of Law 
# 2 Conclusion of Law 
 
More Claims
Jetgun Decisions
Hep C Decisions
 
Search Board of Appeals Website
BVA Jetgun Decisions
BVA Hepatitis C Decisions

Great Advice!  
After the jetgun win
What to do next


Follow HCVets.com
@HCVeterans


 

 

The liver is one of the most complex organs in the human body. It is the body’s largest organ and responsible for more than 5,000 life-sustaining functions. The liver is primarily responsible for converting food into energy. Additionally, the liver filters the body from hundreds of potential toxins and synthesizes a variety of factors necessary to sustain life. When the liver is diseased, the entire body is affected. 
 
PLoS One. 2018 Aug 1;13(8):e0196908. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196908. eCollection 2018.

A comprehensive assessment of patient reported symptom burden, medical comorbidities, and functional well being in patients initiating direct acting antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C: Results from a large US multi-center observational study.

Evon DM1, Stewart PW2, Amador J2, Serper M3, Lok AS4, Sterling RK5, Sarkar S6, Golin CE7,8, Reeve BB9, Nelson DR10, Reau N11, Lim JK12, Reddy KR3, Di Bisceglie AM13, Fried MW1.

Author information

 

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Symptom burden, medical comorbidities, and functional well-being of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) initiating direct acting antiviral (DAA) therapy in real-world clinical settings are not known. We characterized these patient-reported outcomes (PROs) among HCV-infected patients and explored associations with sociodemographic, liver disease, and psychiatric/substance abuse variables.

METHODS AND FINDINGS:

PROP UP is a large US multicenter observational study that enrolled 1,600 patients with chronic HCV in 2016-2017. Data collected prior to initiating DAA therapy assessed the following PROs: number of medical comorbidities; neuropsychiatric, somatic, gastrointestinal symptoms (PROMIS surveys); overall symptom burden (Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale); and functional well-being (HCV-PRO). Candidate predictors included liver disease markers and patient-reported sociodemographic, psychiatric, and alcohol/drug use features. Predictive models were explored using a random selection of 700 participants; models were then validated with data from the remaining 900 participants. The cohort was 55% male, 39% non-white, 48% had cirrhosis (12% with advanced cirrhosis); 52% were disabled or unemployed; 63% were on public health insurance or uninsured; and over 40% had markers of psychiatric illness. The median number of medical comorbidities was 4 (range: 0-15), with sleep disorders, chronic pain, diabetes, joint pain and muscle aches being present in 20-50%. Fatigue, sleep disturbance, pain and neuropsychiatric symptoms were present in over 60% and gastrointestinal symptoms in 40-50%. In multivariable validation models, the strongest and most frequent predictors of worse PROs were disability, unemployment, and use of psychiatric medications, while liver markers generally were not.

CONCLUSIONS:

This large multi-center cohort study provides a comprehensive and contemporary assessment of the symptom burden and comorbid medical conditions in patients with HCV treated in real world settings. Pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbance were common and often severe. Sociodemographic and psychiatric markers were the most robust predictors of PROs. Future research that includes a rapidly changing population of HCV-infected individuals needs to evaluate how DAA therapy affects PROs and elucidate which symptoms resolve with viral eradication.

TRIAL REGISTRATION:

(Clinicaltrial.gov: NCT02601820).

PMID:
30067745
PMCID:
PMC6070182
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0196908

 

Read the complete study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6070182/

Disability Ratings
Does Your Medical Record Show Hep C Related Diseases?
The Liver and Hepatitis C

Reminder: The VA will give a Military Disability Rating for each service-connected condition a service member has, but the DoD will only rate service-connected conditions that make a service member Unfit for Duty.

 

 

Site Map

Medical Risks Blood Products & Vaccines Red Cross Legal Actions
Provider Risks Jet/Air Gun Vaccinations Federal Agencies Military Files
Dental Risk Injection Equipment Scientific Journals Tattoos & Piercing
  Immune Serum Globulin Media Articles Shared Items

For problems or questions regarding this Web site contact
Contact
 HCVets.com
Revised: June 02, 2016

FAIR USE NOTICE