Baseline characteristics and mortality among people in care for chronic viral hepatitis: the chronic hepatitis cohort study.

Background: The Chronic Hepatitis Cohort Study (CHeCS), a dynamic prospective, longitudinal, observational cohort study, was created to assess the clinical impact of chronic viral hepatitis in the United States. This report describes the cohort selection process, baseline demographics, and insurance, biopsy, hospitalization, and mortality rates.

Methods: Electronic health records of >1.