Eman Ahmed Sabet and Ahmed Saad Allah Abd El Aal
Background: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a complicated disorder associated with a high risk of development of critical micro- and macrovascular complications. The extrahepatic manifestations of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can include multiple metabolic consequences. However, the extent and severity of MS in HCV-infected patients have rarely been investigated in community based settings. Objectives: To determine the difference in the prevalence and distribution of metabolic syndrome between HCVinfected patients and healthy controls, to identify whether HCV is considered a risk factor for metabolic syndrome in our community or not. Methods: From January 2013 to December 2014, the authors retrospectively and prospectively studied 134 adult patients diagnosed to have HCV infection with age above 18, in Sohag area, Upper Egypt. Clinical profiles in terms of anthropometric data, MS components, and viral hepatitis markers, as well as Finnish Diabetes Risk Score (FINDRISC), were assessed. Results: Three hundred and thirty-three adults (males: females=178: 155; mean age, 45.3 � 11.2 years) were recruited. The prevalence of anti-HCV seropositivity was 40.2% (134/333). The prevalence of MS was higher in the HCV-infected individuals (26.9%, 36/134) than in the control, uninfected subjects (14.1%, 28/199, p=0.004). In terms of MS components, MS HCV-infected subjects had a higher waist circumference (88.7 � 7.3 vs. 85.4 � 4, p<0.001) and higher levels of fasting plasma glucose (111.9 � 26.6 vs. 102.5 � 20.4, p<0.001) than controls. Through the study the FINDRISC risk was increased in HCV- infected subjects, the very high risk score was (4.5% vs. 0.0%, p<0.001) than controls. Multivariate logistic regression analysis proved that anti-HCV positivity was significantly associated with MS (odds ratio, 2.2; p=0.004). Conclusion: HCV infection was associated with a higher prevalence of MS in our community. Determination of MS in patients with HCV infection could therefore be needed.