Prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in patients with COPD.
Some studies have suggested that chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection may induce an accelerated decline of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1)). We performed a cross-sectional study to determine the prevalence of HCV infection in a sample of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and in a control group of blood donors. The clinical characteristics of HCV-positive and HCV-negative patients were compared. Anti-HCV antibody was determined and confirmed by HCV-RNA. The prevalence of HCV infection in COPD patients was 7.5% (95% CI 6.52-8.48) and in blood donors was 0.41% (95% CI 0.40-0.42). The HCV-positive patients had a lower FEV(1) (34.7 +/- 8.6%) and a higher BODE index (median = 6) than HCV-negative patients (42.7 +/- 16.5%, median = 4, respectively) (P = 0.011 and 0.027, respectively). Our results suggest a high prevalence of chronic HCV infection in patients with COPD in comparison with the blood donors. HCV-positive patients have a more severe disease.
Silva
D R
DR
Pulmonary Division, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Brazil. denise.rossato@terra.com.br
Stifft
J
J
Cheinquer
H
H
Knorst
M M
MM
D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral