Researchers from the University of Bern, Switzerland released results from their study of HCV disease progression in 1,645 hepatitis C infected patients followed for a mean time of over 2 years.  The study calculated all cause mortality (death) using age and gender in the hepatitis C study participants compared to calendar year-specific Swiss all-cause mortality rates.  Various factors that could lead to death were also factored into the study including cirrhotic status, HCV genotype, coinfection with hepatitis B and HIV, injection drug use and alcohol intake.  During the study period 61 deaths were recorded out of the total study population of 1645 people with chronic hepatitis C.  

The researchers reported that in those study participants

• who were not infected with HBV or HIV,
• who did not inject drugs,
• who were not heavy alcohol consumers (less than or equal to 40 grams a day), and
• who were not HCV genotype 3,

there was little evidence of excess death in the study participants.   The authors stated that “[O]ur findings emphasize the importance of providing appropriate preventive advice, such as counseling to avoid alcohol intake, in those infected with HCV.

Source: 

"Little evidence that hepatitis C virus leads to a higher risk of mortality in the absence of cirrhosis and excess alcohol intake: the Swiss Hepatitis C Cohort Study." L. Prasad, V. M. Spicher, F. Negro, M. Rickenbach, M. Zwahlen. Journal of Viral Hepatitis, Volume 16, Issue 9, Pages 644 - 649

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