BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and diabetes mellitus (DM) are main causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. There is an increasing evidence of association between HCV and type 2 DM. Comorbidity will cause devastating health and financial burdens. Early detection may help proper management and better prognosis. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the frequency and risk factors of HCV among Saudi patients with diabetes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 1054 Saudi patients with diabetes type 1 and type 2 were randomly selected, interviewed, and tested for HCV in Dammam Medical Complex, KSA (2011), using the HCV Rapid Test. Positive cases were later confirmed using the INNO-LIA HCV score line immunoassay. RESULTS: Seropositivity of HCV was 1.9%. Regression analysis revealed the following independent predictors: sharing articles, elevated liver enzymes, exposure to blood or blood products in occupational setting, disease duration more than 5 years, tattooing, blood transfusion, and hospitalization more than two times. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The study confirmed a positive association between HCV and DM. The frequency of HCV among patients with diabetes was 1.9%. Predictors of HCV among DM patients were sharing articles, elevated transaminases, occupational exposure to blood or its products, disease duration more than 5 years, tattooing, blood transfusion, and hospitalization more than two times. We recommend screening for HCV among DM patients with elevated serum transaminases and those having the disease for more than 5 years and education of patients with diabetes as regards their high risk for HCV and how to avoid infection.
BACKGROUND:Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and diabetes mellitus (DM) are main causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. There is an increasing evidence of association between HCV and type 2 DM. Comorbidity will cause devastating health and financial burdens. Early detection may help proper management and better prognosis. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the frequency and risk factors of HCV among Saudi patients with diabetes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 1054 Saudi patients with diabetes type 1 and type 2 were randomly selected, interviewed, and tested for HCV in Dammam Medical Complex, KSA (2011), using the HCV Rapid Test. Positive cases were later confirmed using the INNO-LIA HCV score line immunoassay. RESULTS: Seropositivity of HCV was 1.9%. Regression analysis revealed the following independent predictors: sharing articles, elevated liver enzymes, exposure to blood or blood products in occupational setting, disease duration more than 5 years, tattooing, blood transfusion, and hospitalization more than two times. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The study confirmed a positive association between HCV and DM. The frequency of HCV among patients with diabetes was 1.9%. Predictors of HCV among DMpatients were sharing articles, elevated transaminases, occupational exposure to blood or its products, disease duration more than 5 years, tattooing, blood transfusion, and hospitalization more than two times. We recommend screening for HCV among DMpatients with elevated serum transaminases and those having the disease for more than 5 years and education of patients with diabetes as regards their high risk for HCV and how to avoid infection.