PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERNS
Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C Will Severely Increase Need for Liver Transplants

Many More Organ Donations Necessary to Meet 528% Increase in Demand

The demand for liver transplants, and thus organ donations, is expected to increase 528% by the year 2008, according to a study conducted by University of Florida researcher Gary Davis, MD. Increases in cases of liver damage caused by hepatitis C are predicted to be the primary cause. The study results were recently reported at a meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease.

Dr. Davis further predicts in his study, based on a projection of current infection rates, the number of people dying from hepatitis C will triple over the next decade, to about 30,000 a year. This increase will be "a huge burden on health care resources in this country," according to Dr. Davis.

In its effort to direct attention to Hepatitis C and its growing health impact, MSSNY aims to foster recognition of this serious medical issue, which affects tens of thousands of Americans. This does not include the additional hundreds of thousands believed to unknowingly be carrying the disease. 

Furthermore, MSSNY has actively been trying to increase awareness for the need for organ and tissue donation. In New York State, approximately 6,300 people are waiting for livers, hearts, kidneys, lungs and various combinations of two or more organs to become available for transplant. 

MSSNYweb Archives 10/21/99