Background: Egypt has the highest prevalence of hepatitis C
virus (HCV) infection in the world and is facing an epidemic of type 2
diabetes mellitus. The objective of this study was to assess the
prevalence of insulin resistance (IR) and prediabetes among HCV
patients. Methods: A cross-sectional case-control study was performed
on 188 HCV patients admitted to the Internal Medicine Department in
Menoufia University Hospital during the period from May to August
2014. Seventy persons were taken as controls. Body mass index (BMI),
serum fasting glucose and fasting insulin were determined. IR was
calculated by the Homeostasis Model for Assessment of Insulin
Resistance (HOMA-IR), where a value of .2.0 was considered as IR
and that .4.0 was considered as prediabetic state. Results: Prediabetes
was significantly higher among HCV group compared with the control
group. Serum fasting glucose, fasting insulin and HOMA-IR levels
were significantly higher among prediabetic HCV group compared with
both non-prediabetic HCV and control groups. Conclusions: HCV
patients should be assessed for IR and prediabetes in their routine
evaluation to avoid the double burden of diabetes mellitus and HCV. |
