DIABETES MELLITUS ESTÁ ASSOCIADO À DOENÇA HEPÁTICA MAIS AVANÇADA EM PORTADORES DA INFECÇÃO CRÔNICA PELO VÍRUS DA HEPATITE C.

Abstract

Introduction: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an RNA virus with six different genotypes (1 to 6). This virus is mainly transmitted through parenteral route. An estimated 170 million individuals are HCV carriers worldwide. HCV infection is considered as the main cause of liver cirrhosis in the West. The natural history of HCV is related to viral and host factors. Among the latter, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has been related with more rapid progression of liver fibrosis. Aim: To evaluate HCV carriers and identify factors associated with more advanced degrees of liver fibrosis. Methods: A cross-sectional study with chronic HCV carriers. The study was performed at the Center for Liver Study Outpatient Clinic of the Presidente Dutra University Hospital, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, Maranhão, northeast Brazil. The patients had their medical records analysed. The subjects with the following features were not enrolled for this study: incomplete data, HIV or HBV coinfection, end-stage chronic renal disease on dialysis and individuals who underwent kidney or liver transplantation. Demographic data (sex and age), alcohol intake (yes or no), T2DM (presence or absence), HCV genotype and degrees of liver fibrosis were retrieved from the patients’ medical records. The patients were classified as less or more advanced fibrosis. Both groups were compared to demographic variables, viral genotypes, T2DM presence and alcohol intake. We used the chi-square test and student’s t-test for nominal and numerical variables respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors independently associated with more advanced degrees of liver fibrosis. We used the SPSS version 23.0 for statistical analyses. Results: A total of 235 patients participated of this study. These patients had complete data on their medical records and met all the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Most of them were male (138/235; 59%) ranging from 18 to 78 years of age (53 ± 10). They were associated with more advanced degrees of fibrosis: Age (OR=1.061, 95% CI: 1.025- 1.098, p<0.001), presence of T2DM (OR 2.227, 95%CI: 1.059-4.142, p = 0.035) and alcohol intake (OR 1.921, 95%CI: 1.129-3.269, p=0.036). Conclusion: T2DM was associated with more advanced degrees of liver fibrosis among the HCV carriers. Thus, diagnosis and treatment of HCV carriers with diabetes are of great importance for interrupting the progression of liver cirrhosis.