HEPATITIS C INFECTION

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of Hepatitis C virus infection in Type IIDiabetes Mellitus patients and its associated risk factors in our population. Duration and Placeof Study: Study was conducted in Jinnah Post graduate Medical Centre, Karachi betweenDecember 2013 to December 2014.Study Design: It is a Cross-sectional study. Data collectionand Results: Data was collected from registered diabetic patients, 355 diagnosed Type IIdiabetes mellitus patients including 128(36.1%) males and 227(63.9%) females were selectedand their Hepatitis C screening was done by ICT method. The bio-data of the patients, history andduration of diabetes mellitus, history of blood transfusion, previous surgery, accidents, shavingfrom barber, tattooing, nose piercing, acupuncture,insulin use were recorded on a proforma.Out of the 355 diabetes mellituspatients tested, 33 were positive for anti-HCV antibodies givinga prevalence of 9.3%. Conclusion:There is increased prevalence of HCV infectionin diabeticpatients when compared with general prevalence of HCV in Pakistan.