Hepatitis C virus infection and metabolic syndrome---a community-based study in an endemic area of Taiwan.
Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a complicated disorder associated with a high risk of future development of micro- and macrovascular complications. The extrahepatic manifestations of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can include multiple metabolic abnormalities. However, the extent, severity, and characteristics of MS in HCV-infected patients have rarely been investigated in community-based settings. This study aimed to determine the difference in prevalence and distribution of the components of MS between HCV-infected patients and healthy controls. Multipurpose mass screening of adults was conducted in an HCV-endemic area of Southern Taiwan. Clinical profiles in terms of anthropometric data and MS components, as well as viral hepatitis markers, were assessed. Two hundred and thirty-seven adults (94 males; mean age, 55.5 +/- 10.8 years) were recruited. The prevalence of anti-HCV seropositivity was 39.2% (93/237). The prevalence of MS was higher in the HCV-infected individuals (24.7%, 23/93) than in the control, uninfected subjects (13.2%, 19/144, p = 0.02). In terms of MS components, HCV-infected subjects had a higher prevalence of high waist circumference (51.6% vs. 25.7%, p < 0.001) and hypertension (58.1% vs. 36.8%, p = 0.001) than controls. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that anti-HCV positivity was significantly associated with MS (odds ratio, 6.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.82-22.84; p = 0.004). HCV infection was associated with a higher prevalence of MS. Determination of MS in patients with HCV infection could therefore be indicated.
Huang
Jee-Fu
JF
Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal Hsiao-Kang Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, and Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Health Science, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Chuang
Wan-Long
WL
Yu
Ming-Lung
ML
Yu
Sung-Hua
SH
Huang
Chung-Feng
CF
Huang
Ching-I
CI
Yeh
Ming-Lun
ML
Hsieh
Meng-Hsuan
MH
Yang
Jeng-Fu
JF
Lin
Zu-Yau
ZY
Chen
Shinn-Chern
SC
Dai
Chia-Yen
CY
Chang
Wen-Yu
WY
D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D013624:Taiwan