Prevalence of Hepatitis C Infection among Diabetics Type 2 at Sharkia Governorate, Egypt

Background HCV infection and type 2 diabetes mellitus are two chronic conditions which contribute to a significant morbidity and mortality. Egypt has the highest hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence in the world (14.7 %). The drivers of the HCV epidemic in Egypt are not well understood, but the mass parenteral antischistosomal therapy (PAT) campaigns in the second half of the 20th century are believed to be the determinant of the high prevalence. The mutual relationship between diabetes and increased HCV infection may be due to the association of HCV with hepatic steatosis, insulin resistance and decrease of adiponectine synthesis as well as the nature of diabetes and its inherent complications and/or frequent parental exposure. Objective There are many studies in the past done on frequency of diabetes in HCV infection and the average was 13.84 % prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in HCV seropositive patients, but little number of studies evaluated the prevalence of HCV in diabetics. Our aim is to determine the prevalence of HCV infection in diabetics in Sharkia Governorate and to explore the predominant risk factors for HCV infection and its relation to some demographic parameters of this locality. Subjects and methods A cross sectional randomized study was conducted to 642 patients, regardless of gender, body weight, educational level or socioeconomic levels, at multicentre managing diabetic patients at Sharkia governorate. All patients were subjected to detection of HCV-ab by third generation ELISA and HBA1C level. Results The prevalence of HCV infection among diabetic patients at Sharkia governorate approximates 38.7 %. Higher prevalence was detected among patients between 45 & 65 years old, low socioeconomic level, low educational level, those who shared personal utensils, those with family members infected with HCV, patients who previously transfused, previous hospitalized, previously received parenteral anti-bilharzial therapy and those receiving insulin injections. Conclusion As high as 39 % of diabetic patients at Sharkia Governorate are HCV-infected. Apart from classic risk factors, the most significant independable factors associated with development of HCV infection in diabetic patients are low socioeconomic standard and low educational level. Previous blood transfusion, family members infected with HCV, parenteral antibilharzial treatment, sharing personal utensils and previous hospitalization may play also a role.