title: Frequency and factors associated with hepatitis C virus infection among patients with diabetes, Dammam, KSA.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and diabetes mellitus (DM) are main causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. There is an increasing evidence of association between HCV and type 2 DM. Comorbidity will cause devastating health and financial burdens. Early detection may help proper management and better prognosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to examine the frequency and risk factors of HCV among Saudi patients with diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, 1054 Saudi patients with diabetes type 1 and type 2 were randomly selected, interviewed, and tested for HCV in Dammam Medical Complex, KSA (2011), using the HCV Rapid Test. Positive cases were later confirmed using the INNO-LIA HCV score line immunoassay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seropositivity of HCV was 1.9%. Regression analysis revealed the following independent predictors: sharing articles, elevated liver enzymes, exposure to blood or blood products in occupational setting, disease duration more than 5 years, tattooing, blood transfusion, and hospitalization more than two times.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study confirmed a positive association between HCV and DM. The frequency of HCV among patients with diabetes was 1.9%. Predictors of HCV among DM patients were sharing articles, elevated transaminases, occupational exposure to blood or its products, disease duration more than 5 years, tattooing, blood transfusion, and hospitalization more than two times. We recommend screening for HCV among DM patients with elevated serum transaminases and those having the disease for more than 5 years and education of patients with diabetes as regards their high risk for HCV and how to avoid infection.
authors.affiliation: aDammam Medical Complex, Dammam, KSA bDepartment of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ebtesam M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Ba-Essa
authors.forename: Eman I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Mobarak
authors.forename: Sahar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abd Elrahman
mesh_terms: D015897:Comorbidity; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology