Covid-19 In HCV Treated Versus Non-Treated Patients: A Case Control Study

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.