Metabolic Syndrome Increases Mortality Risk in Hepatitis C Patients

According to a study, patients with hepatitis C infection are at increased risk of mortality if they also suffer from one or more key components of metabolic syndrome.

Type 2 diabetes, obesity and hypertension (high blood pressure) are associated with overall and liver related mortality in hepatitis C infected patients. In hepatitis C infected patients, the top three predictors of liver related mortality were having higher body mass index (BMI), presence of insulin resistance and elevated serum cholesterol. Overall mortality in hepatitis C patients is most linked to metabolic syndrome, higher BMI and high blood pressure.

Metabolic syndrome is a combination of medical problems that increase risks of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. This study shows a clear association between key components of metabolic syndrome and mortality in hepatitis C patients and demonstrates the importance of lifestyle improvements in the management of hepatitis C patients.

The cohort study included 15,866 individuals, 264 patients were hepatitis C positive, and 13,004 were considered controls. Hepatitis C patients had more insulin resistance and higher rate of type 2 diabetes than controls. In comparison to the hepatitis C negative patients, hepatitis C patients had higher overall mortality, higher liver-related mortality, higher type 2 diabetes related mortality and higher mortality from solid organ malignancy. In hepatitis C patients, increased overall mortality was associated with components of metabolic syndrome, higher BMI and high blood pressure. In hepatitis C patients, increased liver-related mortality was associated with higher BMI and high blood pressure.

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References:
1. Zobair Younossi, et al. TYPE 2 DIABETES (DM), OBESITY AND HYPERTENSION (HTN) ARE ASSOCIATED WITH MORTALITY IN HEPATITIS C (HCV) PATIENTS. Center for Liver Diseases, Inova Fairfax Hospital, Inova Health System. Presented at 44th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver.