Frequency of Metabolic Syndrome in Patients With Hepatitis C Virus Infection: A Cross-Sectional Study

Metabolic syndrome significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been associated with an increased risk of metabolic syndrome. This study aims to explore this association to improve management strategies for HCV patients at risk of metabolic syndrome.

A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in the Department of Medicine, Lahore General Hospital, Lahore, from December 3, 2022, to June 2, 2023. The study employed non-probability consecutive sampling to include 115 patients diagnosed with HCV infection for at least 6 months. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria for Asian-Americans. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0.

Out of 115 individuals with HCV infection, 36 (31.3%) were found to have metabolic syndrome. The condition was slightly more prevalent among males (33.3%) than females (29.3%), although this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.642). A higher frequency of metabolic syndrome was observed in participants aged 31-45 years (34.8%) and 46-60 years (32.0%) compared to those aged 15-30 years (21.1%), but this variation was also not significant (p = 0.549). The duration of HCV infection showed no significant relationship with the presence of metabolic syndrome (p = 0.386). Multivariable logistic regression further confirmed that gender, age group, and duration of infection were not independently associated with metabolic syndrome.

This study indicates that while metabolic syndrome is fairly common among individuals with HCV infection and in older age, its occurrence does not show a significant association with gender, age, or the duration of infection. These results underscore the need for further studies to clarify the complex interplay between HCV and metabolic disturbances.