Increasing hepatitis C virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma mortality and aging: Long term trends in Japan

Abstract Background The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Japan has been increasing. The aim of the study was to determine the epidemiological trends in HCC mortality in Japan. Methods We reviewed the medical records of all patients whose death was caused by liver disease between 1981 and 2000 at two hospitals. The courses of death were separated based on presence or absence of HCC when death ensued. Additionally, cohorts of patients with HCC were analyzed in 5-year time periods. Results The number of deaths from hepatitis C virus (HCV)-associated HCC steadily increased 2.6 times from 49 to 128 during observation period. The mean age at death from HCV-associated HCC from 1996 to 2000 was significantly higher than that in the period from 1981 to 1985 ( p Interpretation Deaths from HCV-associated HCC increased from 1981 to 2000, consistent with the aging of the population in Japan.