Open AccessHepatitis C Virus Infection And Metabolic Syndrome—A Community‐Based Study in an Endemic Area of Taiwan
Author(s) -
Huang JeeFu,
Chuang WanLong,
Yu MingLung,
Yu SungHua,
Huang ChungFeng,
Huang ChingI,
Yeh MingLun,
Hsieh MengHsuan,
Yang JengFu,
Lin ZuYau,
Chen ShinnChern,
Dai ChiaYen,
Chang WenYu
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the kaohsiung journal of medical sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.439
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 2410-8650
pISSN - 1607-551X
DOI - 10.1016/s1607-551x(09)70520-0
Subject(s) - medicine , hepatitis c virus , metabolic syndrome , odds ratio , waist , confidence interval , hepatitis c , anthropometry , logistic regression , multivariate analysis , gastroenterology , body mass index , immunology , virus , obesity
Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a complicated disorder associated with a high risk of future development of micro‐ and macrovascular complications. The extrahepatic manifestations of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can include multiple metabolic abnormalities. However, the extent, severity, and characteristics of MS in HCV‐infected patients have rarely been investigated in community‐based settings. This study aimed to determine the difference in prevalence and distribution of the components of MS between HCV‐infected patients and healthy controls. Multipurpose mass screening of adults was conducted in an HCV‐endemic area of Southern Taiwan. Clinical profiles in terms of anthropometric data and MS components, as well as viral hepatitis markers, were assessed. Two hundred and thirty‐seven adults (94 males; mean age, 55.5 ± 10.8 years) were recruited. The prevalence of anti‐HCV seropositivity was 39.2% (93/237). The prevalence of MS was higher in the HCV‐infected individuals (24.7%, 23/93) than in the control, uninfected subjects (13.2%, 19/144, p = 0.02). In terms of MS components, HCV‐infected subjects had a higher prevalence of high waist circumference (51.6% vs . 25.7%, p < 0.001) and hypertension (58.1% vs . 36.8%, p = 0.001) than controls. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that anti‐HCV positivity was significantly associated with MS (odds ratio, 6.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.82–22.84; p = 0.004). HCV infection was associated with a higher prevalence of MS. Determination of MS in patients with HCV infection could therefore be indicated.