Associations between hepatitis C viremia and low serum triglyceride and cholesterol levels: a community-based study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the association of virologic status with serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels in individuals with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.


METHODS
We conducted a large scale community-based study enrolling 11,239 residents in an area endemic for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HCV infection in southern Taiwan. Overall, 703 (6.3%), 1,536 (13.7%), 84 (0.7%) and 9,084 (80.8%) subjects were sero-positive for anti-HCV antibody (anti-HCV), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and both anti-HCV and HBsAg, and negative for anti-HCV and HBsAg, respectively.


RESULTS
By multivariate logistic analyses, the independent factors significantly associated with elevated serum cholesterol level were older age, female, negative for diabetes, anti-HCV or HBsAg and elevated triglyceride levels. The independent factors significantly associated with elevated serum triglyceride level were male, positive for diabetes, negative for anti-HCV or HBsAg, higher body mass index (BMI) and elevated cholesterol levels. Of 642 anti-HCV-positive subjects that have HCV RNA tested by standardized automated qualitative PCR assay, 478 (74.5%) were positive for HCV RNA. By multivariate logistic analyses, the independent factors associated with elevated serum cholesterol level were female, elevated serum triglyceride levels, negative for diabetes or HCV RNA. The independent factors associated with elevated serum triglyceride levels were elevated serum cholesterol levels, positive for diabetes, higher BMI and negative for HCV RNA. Diabetes, lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels were independent factors associated with positive HCV RNA.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on the result of this large scale community study, HCV viremia appears to be associated with lower serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels which implies that HCV itself might play a significant role on serum lipid profile of patients with chronic HCV infection.
Dai
Chia-Yen
CY
Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, No. 100, Tzyou 1st Road, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan.
Chuang
Wan-Long
WL
Ho
Chi-Kung
CK
Hsieh
Ming-Yen
MY
Huang
Jee-Fu
JF
Lee
Li-Po
LP
Hou
Nai-Jen
NJ
Lin
Zu-Yau
ZY
Chen
Shinn-Cherng
SC
Hsieh
Ming-Yuh
MY
Wang
Liang-Yen
LY
Tsai
Jun-Fa
JF
Chang
Wen-Yu
WY
Yu
Ming-Lung
ML
D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*; D014766:Viremia / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology
D012367:RNA, Viral; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol