This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.

No association between HCV, diabetes in US population

In a recent study, researchers observed that hepatitis C virus infection was not associated with diabetes in a US-based population.

Researchers analyzed data collected from 1999 to 2010 on 15,128 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Prevalence of HCV, diabetes and other factors were determined to conclude any relationship between HCV and diabetes among this specific population.

Among the participants, HCV RNA prevalence was 1.1%, anti-HCV was 1.7%. Also, 7.3% of participants were previously diagnosed with diabetes, 3.2% had undiagnosed diabetes and 32.8% had prediabetes. No differences were observed in the unadjusted and adjusted prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes in participants with anti-HCV or HCV RNA; diabetes and prediabetes were unassociated with HCV under both circumstances. There also was no association between diabetes and HCV among age and BMI subgroups (P>.05).  

Elevated liver enzyme levels were apparent in the participants with HCV markers. Multivariate analysis indicated that the high levels were associated with an increased likelihood of diabetes, regardless of the presence of HCV. HCV markers among the participants did not indicate an increased likelihood of diabetes.     

“In the US population, we were unable to demonstrate an association of HCV infection with diabetes or with [insulin resistance],” the researchers concluded. “Elevated liver enzyme activities were associated with both diabetes and with [insulin resistance]. We suggest that previous reports of relationships of HCV with diabetes may, in large measure, have been the result of this effect of elevated liver enzymes.”

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.