U.S. residents are being hospitalized for hepatitis C virus (HCV)–related causes at an increasing rate, Healio reports.

Researchers published this and other related findings in a Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project statistical brief.

They found that in 2005, 342,400 people were hospitalized due to HCV and 114,700 people were hospitalized for HCV along with hepatitis B virus (HBV), HIV or acute liver disease. These figures rose to 509,700 and 127,200 in 2014, for an increase of 48.9 percent and 10.9 percent, respectively.

The per capita rate of hospitalization among baby boomers, those born between 1945 and 1965, rose by 67.3 percent between 2005 and 2014. Those older than this generation saw their own rate rise 12.2 percent while adults younger than the boomers saw their rate rise by 14.9 percent.

Rates for hospitalization due to hep C rose faster than rates for other conditions among men, African Americans, Latinos, those on Medicaid, those living in low-income areas and those living in large central metropolitan areas.  

To read the Healio article, click here.

To read the statistical brief, click here.