Increase in Hepatitis C Associated Opioid Overdoses in South Georgia Rural Community Hospital: 2018-2022
Abstract
Background
HCV has increased in ages 18-29 by 400%. This age group is most impacted by the opioid crisis and dangerous disease transmission. In addition, non-prescription drugs are often laced with fentanyl or other synthetic opioids. Sharing needles is also a risk factor for spreading HCV. The purpose study is to determine the impact of the growing opioid crisis with respect to HCV in 35 Georgia rural counties at Memorial Health University Medical Center (MHUMC).
Methods
Retrospective chart review at MHUMC ED on patients tested for HCV between 2018 – 2022. Included only HCV+ patients with documented overdose. Patients were grouped into 2 categories: 2018-2019/2020-2022. A comparison was completed between the two groups and each was analyzed to determine the differences and impact of opioid use on HCV positivity.
Results
Between 2018-2019, 411 patients tested HCV+ and 75 suffered fentanyl, fentanyl analog, or synthetic opioid overdose. From 2020-2022, 1,112 patients identified HCV+ with 306 patients showed fentanyl, fentanyl analog, or synthetic opioid overdose. These results demonstrate a 171% increase in HCV+ patients and 308% increase in overdoses.
Conclusion & Discussion
This project supports the link between opioids and the significant increase in HCV+ patients admitted for overdose. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains the rise in HCV as a result of opioid epidemic. In 2022, the Georgia Department of Public Health released strategies to eliminate HCV by 2030. It is important to follow updated CDC HCV screening guidelines for all adults ≥18 rather than just the birth cohort as younger population is clearly at risk as is supported by our results. The solution to reduce incidence of HCV and related opioid overdoses is two-fold; reduce use of synthetic opioids in the U.S. and detect HCV early to reduce transmission.
Keywords
Opioids, HCV, Overdose, Epidemic
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Increase in Hepatitis C Associated Opioid Overdoses in South Georgia Rural Community Hospital: 2018-2022
Background
HCV has increased in ages 18-29 by 400%. This age group is most impacted by the opioid crisis and dangerous disease transmission. In addition, non-prescription drugs are often laced with fentanyl or other synthetic opioids. Sharing needles is also a risk factor for spreading HCV. The purpose study is to determine the impact of the growing opioid crisis with respect to HCV in 35 Georgia rural counties at Memorial Health University Medical Center (MHUMC).
Methods
Retrospective chart review at MHUMC ED on patients tested for HCV between 2018 – 2022. Included only HCV+ patients with documented overdose. Patients were grouped into 2 categories: 2018-2019/2020-2022. A comparison was completed between the two groups and each was analyzed to determine the differences and impact of opioid use on HCV positivity.
Results
Between 2018-2019, 411 patients tested HCV+ and 75 suffered fentanyl, fentanyl analog, or synthetic opioid overdose. From 2020-2022, 1,112 patients identified HCV+ with 306 patients showed fentanyl, fentanyl analog, or synthetic opioid overdose. These results demonstrate a 171% increase in HCV+ patients and 308% increase in overdoses.
Conclusion & Discussion
This project supports the link between opioids and the significant increase in HCV+ patients admitted for overdose. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains the rise in HCV as a result of opioid epidemic. In 2022, the Georgia Department of Public Health released strategies to eliminate HCV by 2030. It is important to follow updated CDC HCV screening guidelines for all adults ≥18 rather than just the birth cohort as younger population is clearly at risk as is supported by our results. The solution to reduce incidence of HCV and related opioid overdoses is two-fold; reduce use of synthetic opioids in the U.S. and detect HCV early to reduce transmission.
