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Friday, July 7, 2017
News Recap
If there is anything you can take away with you from this week’s newsletter it is the fact that We Really Need New Testing Recommendations in Canada – Similar to Those Issued by the CDC in the USA! Why? Here’s why:
Heart Disease: Researchers have made significant strides into determining the specific CV (cardiovascular) conditions that are common in patients with HIV and HCV. Those with HCV are more likely to develop angina, atherosclerosis (plaque buildup in the arteries) and MI (myocardial infarction = heart attack) than the general population (Patients with HIV, hepatitis C present unique considerations for cardiologists).
Diabetes: Studies also show that hepatitis C infection greatly increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in people who are already at higher risk. One study found that in older people and those with higher body mass, hepatitis C infection increased the risk of diabetes eleven-fold (Curing hepatitis C improves diabetes control).
Kidney Disease: It is also well-known that patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection have an increased risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD), regardless of whether they have additional risk factors for renal insufficiency (Chronic Hepatitis C and Chronic Kidney Disease: Advances, Limitations and Unchartered Territories).
Hidden Transmission Routes: HCV infection during pregnancy – About half of the young people who are injecting drugs are women of childbearing age. And although sexual transmission or transmission of HCV from infected household items is rare, it can happen (Hepatitis C and women of childbearing age). Dental Transmission – More and more we see in the news that dental clinics are failing to comply with proper sterilization rules. Last week all patients of a certain Guelph dental practice over a 2.5-year period were being urged to get tested for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV. Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health announced Friday that they were sending letters to all known patients of Guelph Dental Associates between Jan. 21, 2015 and June 21, 2017 (Guelph dental practice patients at risk of hep C, hep B, HIV infection).
Indigenous communities: On World AIDS Day 2016, the Government of Canada announced Canada’s progress towards goals of eradicating HIV in Canada. National estimates are 20% of people living with HIV in Canada are not aware of their infection; 24% of those aware they have HIV are not taking anti-HIV therapy. Yes, but!!! Why are they not addressing with similar zeal the HCV epidemic where 44% of people living with HCV in Canada are not aware of their infection!! (Canada Leads International Indigenous Initiative to Make Progress Towards Global HIV, TB and Hepatitis C Targets).
Take Away Message
So: What can we take away from this: 44% of Canadians with HCV do not know they are infected, new hidden infections occur, and HCV causes or exacerbates heart and kidney disease and diabetes. All of these untreated people are walking time bombs. We have seen it all too often. By the time they are diagnosed and offered treatment the damage is done and life expectancy is not good!! I cannot understand the STUPIDITY at the heart of the decision to not follow the CDC testing recommendations in Canada.
Coming Up
- Hepatitis Info Table, Victoria, BC PRIDE at MacDonald Park Sunday, July 9