Term of Award
Summer 2024
Degree Name
Doctor of Public Health (Dr.P.H.)
Document Type and Release Option
Dissertation (open access)
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Department
Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health
Committee Chair
Gulzar Shah
Committee Member 1
Kristie Waterfield
Committee Member 2
Ho-Jui Tung
Abstract
Background: Hepatitis C is a significant public health problem in the United States and imposes a substantial burden on the healthcare system. Previous research shows that the COVID-19 pandemic response efforts have overshadowed hepatitis C testing and treatment measures in health care settings across the country. The purpose of this study was to describe and examine the factors associated with hepatitis C-related hospitalizations and inpatient mortality in the United States, pre- and post-onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Data were obtained from the 2019-2020 National Inpatient Sample database. The study population included persons aged ≥18 years with hepatitis C-related inpatient hospitalizations. Independent variables were age, race/ethnicity, sex, geographic census division, insurance type, discharge year and admission month. Dependent variables were hepatitis C-related hospitalizations and inpatient deaths. Logistic regression models were used to analyze the associations between the independent and dependent variables. Results: After adjusting for covariates, results showed that year, age, race/ethnicity, sex, geographic census division, insurance type and admission month were significantly associated with hepatitis C-related hospitalizations. Additionally, year, age, race/ethnicity, sex, geographic census division and insurance type were also significantly associated with hepatitis C-related deaths. Conclusion: The lower odds of hepatitis C-related hospitalizations in 2020 correspond with the declines in hepatitis C testing, diagnosis, and treatment observed in previous studies. Further research on the impact of COVID-19 on hepatitis C-related hospitalizations and mortality is needed to develop and implement more effective prevention and treatment strategies to mitigate hepatitis C infections and related complications in the COVID-19 pandemic era.
Recommended Citation
Samuel, Christina R., "Factors Associated with Hepatitis C-Related Hospitalizations and Inpatient Mortality in the United States, Pre- and Post-Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic" (2024). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2831.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/2831
Research Data and Supplementary Material
No
Included in
Community Health and Preventive Medicine Commons, COVID-19 Commons, Epidemiology Commons, Immunology and Infectious Disease Commons, Microbiology Commons, Telemedicine Commons, Virus Diseases Commons
