FREQUENCY AND COMMON RISK FACTORS LEADING TO HEPATITIS C VIRUS INFECTION IN PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS

Abstract

Objective:

To determine the frequency of hepatitis C virus infection in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and to look for the common risk factors leading to this infection in diabetics.

Study Design: Descriptive cross sectional study design.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Medicine, Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Kharian, from Jan 2015 to Jun 2015.

Patients and Methods:

This study was conducted in the department of Medicine, Combined Military Hospital Kharian. Through a descriptive cross sectional study design, a total of 140 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, admitted through casualty, OPD or private clinics were selected and tested for Hepatitis C virus infection. The common risk factors leading to such infection among positive cases were also scrutinized.

Results:

The mean age of patients was 48.82 ± 10.14 with 60.7% female gender predominating the overall sample of diabetics. Using 3rd generation ELISA method, hepatitis C virus was found in 45 (32.1%) of patients with 41-50 years of age group most commonly affected age group (34.7%) and female (57.8%) commonly affected gender. The distribution of risk factors leading to hepatitis C virus in diabetics are: 21 (46.7%) had history of surgery in the past, 13 (28.9%) had history of blood transfusion in the past, 7 (15.55%) had history of hemodialysis while only 4 (8.9%) had history of tattooing in the past.

Conclusion:

Hepatitis C virus infection is still a common problem in diabetic patients of our local population and we recommend further research work over its risk factors so that the guidelines for its control may be formulated.