Table 1 Demographic characteristics of the patients with hepatitis C in Taiwan in 2000-2011

Sex

<0.0001

 Female

1148

39.92

3081

54.14

 Male

1728

60.08

2610

45.86

Age at baseline

<0.0001

 18−39

364

12.66

945

16.61

 40−64

1451

50.45

3395

59.66

  ≥ 65

1061

36.89

1351

23.74

 Mean (STD)

58.34

14.85

53.92

13.97

Urbanization^a

<0.0001

 1 (highest)

574

19.96

1215

21.35

 2

731

25.42

1652

29.03

 3

447

15.54

939

16.50

 4+ (lowest)

1124

39.08

1885

33.12

 Hepatitis B

570

19.82

1356

23.83

<0.0001

 Liver cirrhosis

989

34.39

1618

28.43

<0.0001

 hepatocellular carcinoma

535

18.60

898

15.78

0.0009

 Alcohol-related disease

294

10.22

477

8.38

0.0049

 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

508

17.66

1402

24.64

<0.0001

 Diabetes Mellitus

1046

36.37

2143

37.66

0.2449

 Thyroid disorders

145

5.04

631

11.09

<0.0001

 Rheumatoid arthritis

89

3.09

400

7.03

<0.0001

 Osteoarthritis

953

33.14

2922

51.34

<0.0001

 Depression

174

6.05

650

11.42

<0.0001

 Sicca syndrome

78

2.71

423

7.43

<0.0001

<0.0001

 0

1203

41.83

3024

53.14

 1

377

13.11

769

13.51

 More than 2

1296

45.06

1898

33.35

 Interferon alfa

392

13.63

974

17.11

<0.0001

 Ribavirin

391

13.60

973

17.10

<0.0001

 Silymarin

1916

66.62

4204

73.87

<0.0001

Times of visits (mean, SD)

15.61

17.18

21.23

23.18

<0.0001