The CDC estimates that 60,000 people in Louisiana (1.3% of the population) are infected with HCV. Of these people, 50,000 (85%) will go on to develop chronic hepatitis and 10,000 (17%) infected people will progress to cirrhosis, which has a 25% fatality rate. Annually, 150 Louisiana residents are expected to die from HCV. The highest rates for both males and females are seen in the thirty-five to forty-four year-old age group. In all age groups, incidence is higher among males (71% of all cases) than females. Furthermore, the number of HCV hospitalizations increased progressively from 3,350 in 1999 to almost 7,000 in 2008.
The overall rate of HCV hospitalization was 100.4 per 100,000 population for Whites and 146.8 per 100,000 for African Americans. The geographical distribution of HCV in Louisiana shows higher rates in urban centers (greater New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, Shreveport and Monroe).