A mathematical analysis of the financial and medical impact of hepatitis C among drug users in Perth, Western Australia

The ability of public health planners continues to be hampered by uncertainties encountered with transmissible diseases. Key epidemiological factors such as, how many Western Australian injecting drug users are hepatitis C seropositive or will become infected, duration of intravenous drug use, the intensity of infection, the fraction of those infected that will develop end-stage disease and after how long a period, all combine to limit the ability of a mathematical model to predict future trends. These models can, however, provide information about certain epidemiological parameters and identify data required to predict future trends. They can be applied to make predictions about the course of infection in the individual and provide a guide to the interpretation of the observed data. This research aims to develop a model of the transmission and spread of hepatitis C, adapting existing models used to predict the spread of HIV and AIDS in one and two sex communities. This model will be used to demonstrate the dynamics and incidence of hepatitis C infection among injecting drug users in Perth, Western Australia. Predictions derived from the model will then be used to undertake an analysis of the cost of treating those with hepatitis C and cirrhosis related complications, resulting in a prediction of the financial impact of hepatitis C on the Western Australian community.

Grantor dc:publisher

Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia

Year dc:date

2003

Author dc:creator

• Kirkpatrick, Raelene

• Hepatitis C
• Patients
• Western Australia
• Mathematical models
• Injections
• Intravenous
• Health aspects
• Health Economics

Repository record dc:identifier

https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1332

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ro.ecu.edu.au:theses-2333