Prevalence of hepatitis C infection and risk factors in hospitalized diabetic patients: results of a cross-sectional study.
OBJECTIVE
Although there may exist a nosocomial risk of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, this risk has not been fully investigated thus far and its magnitude is unknown. The aim of this multicenter cross-sectional study was to evaluate the prevalence of, and risk factors for, hepatitis C infection in consecutive hospitalized patients with diabetes and to assess the nosocomial risk and magnitude of HCV infection in these patients.


METHODS
Consecutive hospitalized patients with diabetes seen in 11 French hepatogastroenterology and diabetology departments were studied. The prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies was compared with that observed in healthy blood donors and individuals seen during routine medical checkup. Diabetic patients with anti-HCV antibodies were compared with patients without anti-HCV antibodies for assessment of risk factors.


RESULTS
In total 1561 patients were studied. Independent risk factors for HCV infection were assessed through multivariate analysis. Thirty-three patients (2.11%) had anti-HCV antibodies and 21 (63.70%) had HCV identified risk factors. The prevalence of HCV infection was higher in patients with diabetes than in blood donors (0.08%) or healthy controls (0.20%) (P<0.001). Multivariate analysis identified four independent risk factors for HCV infection: blood transfusion before 1991 [odds ratio (OR)=2.88, P=0.033], intravenous drug use (OR=21.37, P=0.012), treatment in a hepatogastroenterology center (OR=4.17, P=0.002) and a high number (>2) of previous admissions since the onset of diabetes (OR=2.52, P=0.039).


CONCLUSIONS
A nosocomial source of HCV infection in hospitalized diabetic patients is suggested by the increased risk of HCV infection associated with the number of hospitalizations. This may account for at least 36% of cases of HCV infection.
Cadranel
Jean-François
JF
Picardie Hepatitis C network, Creil, France. jfrancois.cadranel@ch-creil.fr
Di Martino
Vincent
V
Lambrey
Guy
G
Mourlhon
Catherine
C
Nalet
Bernard
B
Anciaux
Marie-Laure
ML
Richard
Christian
C
Bigué
Jean-Paul
JP
Barjon
Jean-Noël
JN
Bories
Christian
C
Barbare
Jean-Claude
JC
Halimi
Chantal
C
Ribière
Olivier
O
Eugène
Claude
C
Pauwels
Arnaud
A
Jeanne
Sandrine
S
Donato
Laurence
L
Dumouchel
Patrice
P
Pariente
Alexandre
A
Duverlie
Gilles
G
Devergie
Bruno
B
Arlot
Sylvie
S
Capron
Dominique
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies