Study of association between diabetes mellitus [D.M] and hepatitis-C virus [HCV] infection

ABSTRACT

To study the frequency of hepatitis-C virus infection in diabetic patients. The observational descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Diabetes Research Centre Nishtar Medical College and Hospital, Multan from September 2006 to December 2007. Two thousand three hundred and twenty seven [2327] diabetic patients were included and were screened for anti-HCV antibodies by immuno-chromatography technique. Out of 2327 diabetic patients, HCV was found in 283 [12.2%]. Among 283 anti-HCV positive diabetics 147 [51.9%] were males and 136[48.1%] were females. The mean age of HCV positive patients was 58 +/- 13.41 years and it was observed the prevalence of HCV increases after the age of 40 years. Hepatitis-C virus infection is common in diabetic patients as compared to general population