ABSTRACT
Background: COVID-19 poses a major health threat to healthy individuals and those with comorbidities. SARS-CoV-2 virus causes liver damage and worsens pre-existing chronic liver disease that yields higher mortality rates. However, it remains unknown whether those with chronic liver disease are at increased risk for SARS-CoV-2 virus infection and how these risks were further affected by the patient's demographics. Aim(s): this study aimed to determine the incidence of mortality and degree of severity of covid-19 infection among the studied cohort. Subject and methods: This case-control study was conducted on 124 patients: (Group A): COVID-19 patients with previous history of treated HCV and (Group B): COVID-19 patients with previous history of untreated HCV. Result(s): There was high significant difference between both groups as regard mortality rate. Also, active HCV infection was associated with more severe disease and higher mortality in patients co-infected with SARS-CoV-2, HCV viral load being an independent risk factor for all-cause mortality and liver impairment. The severity of liver impairment was associated with poor clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients. Conclusion(s): These results suggested that close monitoring and careful treatment for active- HCV patients with COVID-19 are needed to avoid health deterioration and fatal outcome. Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications. All rights reserved.