title: Hepatitis C virus infection and risk of stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Several studies analyzed the association between hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and the risk of stroke or cerebrovascular death, but their findings were inconsistent. Up to date, no systematic review about the association between HCV infection and stroke was performed. We conducted a meta-analysis to examine whether HCV infection dose increase stroke risk in comparison to the population without HCV infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  We followed standard guidelines for performance of meta-analysis. Two independent investigators identified eligible studies through structured keyword searches in several databases. Random-effects and fixed-effects models were used to synthesize the data. Heterogeneity between studies and publication bias were also accessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Combining the data from the eligible studies, we calculated the pooled multi-factor adjusted Odds Ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Upon the heterogeneity found between studies, the result was 1.58 (0.86, 2.30) by random-effects model. However, after omitting the study which induced heterogeneity, the pooled OR with 95% CI was 1.97 (1.64, 2.30).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This meta-analysis suggested that HCV infection increased the risk of stroke. More prospective cohort studies will be needed to confirm this association with underlying biological mechanisms in the future.
authors.affiliation: MOH Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
authors.lastname: He Huang
authors.forename: Rongyan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Zhendong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D016174:Hepacivirus; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D016017:Odds Ratio; D017594:Publication Bias; D012306:Risk; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*