FREQUENCY OF TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS IN HEPATITIS C VIRUS INFECTED POPULATION VISITING TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN SINDH, PAKISTAN..

Abstract

Background:: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a widely prevalent RNA virus, with a global prevalence estimated to be 2.5%, representing approximately 177.5 million people affected worldwide. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major cause of early morbidity and mortality worldwide, with a global prevalence of 9.3% affecting approximately 463 million people globally. There is not rending to screen Hepatitis C positive patients for Diabetes Mellitus in Pakistan. Objective: To determine frequency of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in patients who are seropositive for Hepatitis C. Design: Cross sectional descriptive Study Setting: Medicine ward of Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro Study Duration: Six months from 01/06/2019 to 30/11/2019 Methodology: Utilizing non-probability consecutive sampling, patients with evidence of hepatitis C positive antibodies on Chromatography or ELISA, irrespective of liver cirrhosis and stage of disease were included in this study. Fasting blood glucose was done by taking venous sample after 8 hours of fasting. Structured proforma was used to collect data. Presence of Diabetes Mellitus was confirmed via Fasting blood sugar or HbA1c. Results: 327 patients were included in this study sample.Frequency of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in patients who are seropositive for Hepatitis C was observed in 37.9% within our study sample (124 out of 327 cases). The average age of the patients was 49.3±12.6 years. There was a significant association between occurrence of T2DM in HCV-seropositive patients and their age. There was no significant association between occurrence of T2DM in HCV-seropositive patients and their gender. Conclusion: A high prevalence of T2DM was noted in our studysample of HCV-infected patients in contrast to the unaffected population. Therefore, early intervention is needed to preemptively predict and avoid occurrence of T2DM. This would likely aid in limiting the coexistence of HCV infected patients with T2DM and associated psychosocial, financial, and resource implications.