The Association between Infection with Hepatitis C Virus and Diabetes

[Guest guest]

The full report is titled " Prevalence of Type 2

Diabetes Mellitus among Persons with Hepatitis C Virus

Infection in the United States. " It is in the 17

October 2000 issue of ls of Internal Medicine

(volume 133, pages 592-599). The authors are SH Mehta,

FL Brancati, MS Sulkowski, SA Strathdee, M Szklo, and

DL . |Full Text|

SUMMARY FOR PATIENTS

The Association between Infection with Hepatitis C

Virus and Diabetes

What is the problem and what is known about it so far?

Infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) can lead to

liver problems. Chronic HCV infection has also been

associated with illnesses not related to the liver.

For example, some small studies suggest that diabetes

is more common in people with HCV infection than in

persons without it. Diabetes affects the body's

ability to produce or respond to insulin, a hormone

that regulates how the body uses carbohydrate,

protein, and fat. There are two types of diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes begins during childhood or young

adulthood. People with type 1 diabetes do not make

enough insulin. Type 2 diabetes, also known as

adult-onset diabetes, interferes with the body's

ability to respond to insulin. Over time, high blood

sugar levels in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can

lead to such complications as blindness, kidney

failure, and heart disease.

Why did the researchers do this particular study?

To see whether the likelihood of developing diabetes

is increased among persons with HCV infection in the

general adult population in the United States.

Who was studied?

Nearly 10,000 persons older than 20 years of age who

participated in the Third National Health and

Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) during 1988

to 1994 and had complete evaluation for HCV infection

and for diabetes.

How was the study done?

NHANES III was conducted by interviewing a sample of

the U.S. civilian population in their own homes. The

survey asked about personal characteristics, medical

history, current and past medicine use, and health

behaviors. Ninety-one percent of participants also had

a physical examination and blood tests. The blood

tests included measurement of the blood sugar level

(to detect diabetes) and a test for HCV infection,

which was done by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention. The researchers compared the frequency

of diabetes (type 1 and type 2) in persons with and

those without HCV infection.

What did the researchers find?

Of the 9841 persons studied, 1242 had type 2 diabetes

and 230 had HCV infection. People with HCV infection

were more than three times more likely than people

without HCV infection to have type 2 diabetes. None of

the 19 persons with type 1 diabetes had HCV infection.

What were the limitations of the study?

This study suggests an association between type 2

diabetes and HCV infection, but it does not prove that

the infection causes diabetes.

What are the implications of the study?

In the United States, type 2 diabetes occurs more

often in people with HCV infection than it does in

people without this infection.

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