title: Anti-hepatitis C virus seropositivity is not associated with metabolic syndrome irrespective of age, gender and fibrosis.
abstract: Although many studies have tried to clarify the association between hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and metabolic syndrome, few studies have comprehensively assessed their relationship stratified by different demographic characteristics. We aimed to investigate the correlation between metabolic syndrome and anti-HCV seropositivity in Taiwan. This study enrolled consecutive subjects who had received health check-up services at Taipei Veterans General Hospital from 2002 to 2009. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed according to the criteria defined by the International Diabetes Federation Task Force on Epidemiology and Prevention. Among the 30616 subjects enrolled in this study, the prevalence of positive anti-HCV serology was 2.7%, and 28.8% were diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. By multivariate analysis, metabolic syndrome was associated with higher body mass index, older age, male sex, a higher level of alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, platelet count and the presence of fatty liver whereas anti-HCV seropositivity was not an independent variable for metabolic syndrome. Further stratifying the subjects by age and sex, and there was still no significant difference in HCV status between those with and without metabolic syndrome. Moreover, the stage of liver fibrosis represented by aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index was also not correlated with metabolic syndrome in the subjects with anti-HCV seropositivity. In conclusion, although subjects with anti-HCV seropositivity had higher fasting glucose levels and lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels compared to those with negative anti-HCV test, anti-HCV seropositivity was not associated with metabolic syndrome based on the current diagnostic criteria irrespective of age, gender and the stage of hepatic fibrosis.
authors: Taipei Municipal Gan-Dau Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Yuan-Lung
authors: YL
authors: Cheng
authors: Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Yuan-Chen
authors: YC
authors: Wang
authors: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Keng-Hsin
authors: KH
authors: Lan
authors: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Teh-Ia
authors: TI
authors: Huo
authors: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Yi-Hsiang
authors: YH
authors: Huang
authors: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Chien-Wei
authors: CW
authors: Su
authors: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Han-Chieh
authors: HC
authors: Lin
authors: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Fa-Yauh
authors: FY
authors: Lee
authors: Institute of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Jaw-Ching
authors: JC
authors: Wu
authors: Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Shou-Dong
authors: SD
authors: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012698:Serologic Tests; D012737:Sex Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D008055:Lipids