Comorbidities associated with the increasing burden of hepatitis C infection.
BACKGROUND
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is implicated in an increasing number of liver transplantations, hospitalizations and healthcare costs.


OBJECTIVE
We present an updated assessment of comorbidities associated with HCV in comparison to the general US population.


METHODS
Cross-sectional retrospective review of data from 800 patients with HCV evaluated between January 1998 and November 2007. Patient data were prospectively collected using a standardized questionnaire completed at the first encounter and was compared with general US epidemiological data. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI) are reported.


RESULTS
HCV conferred a 44% (CI 1.16-1.78) and 25% (CI 1.01-1.54) increased risk of diabetes (12.5 vs. 7.3-8.4%; P=0.001) and obesity (23.9 vs. 19.8-33.1%; P=0.041), respectively, compared with the US population. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (5.3 vs. 0.3%; P<0.001) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) (4.5 vs. 0.2%; P<0.001) were 16- and 13-fold more prevalent in HCV. Interestingly, HCV bestowed 90% decreased odds (CI 0.09-0.15) for hyperlipidaemia (12.3 vs. 53.2-56.1%; P<0.001). The HCV population had a higher prevalence of significant alcohol consumption (41.5 vs. 4.7%; P<0.001), current smoking (57.7 vs. 18.8-20.8%; P<0.001), drug use (46.8 vs. 14.6-15.6%; P<0.001), incarceration (6.6 vs. 2.7%; P<0.001) and tattoos (20.3 vs. 14%; P=0.011), as well as chronic fatigue (44.6 vs. 11.3-19%; P<0.001) and depression (29.3 vs. 5.0-10.3%; P<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
HCV poses an increasing healthcare burden associated with increased prevalence of diabetes, obesity, HIV, ESRD, maladaptive lifestyle habits and poor quality of life. Practitioners should be cognizant of these trends in order to appropriately manage these comorbidities.
Basseri
Benjamin
B
Hepatology Section, Division of Gastroenterology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Yamini
David
D
Chee
Grace
G
Enayati
Pharm D Pedram
PD
Tran
Tram
T
Poordad
Fred
F
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015897:Comorbidity; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000453:epidemiology; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology; D008019:Life Style; D015141:Los Angeles / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D011329:Prisoners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D013653:Tattooing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors