RELATIONSHIP OF GLYCEMIC CONTROL AND CHRONIC HEPATITIS C INFECTION IN TYPE-II DIABETIC PATIENTS

Aims: To determine the relationship between glycemic control and HCV infection in patients with type 2 diabetes. Study design: descriptive cross-sectional study. Duration and location: This study included a sample of 108 type 2 diabetic patients from OPD of General Medicine, Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi for one-year duration from March 2019 to March 2020. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was initiated with approval from the hospital's ethics committee. A total of 108 patients with type 2 diabetes were enrolled in the study. Patients with type 2 diabetes meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria were selected for the study and were informed of the presence of anti-HCV antibodies in the 3rd generation ELISA test. Samples were sent for anti-HCV antibodies, blood sugar and HbA1c. Patients with type 2 diabetes were considered to have good glycemic control with HbA1c ≤ 6.5%, and patients with HbA1c> 6.5% were considered to have poor glycemic control. Results: The mean age of the patients was 43.5 years with a standard deviation of 6.8 years. 49 (45.37%) men and 59 (54.63%) women participated in the study. HCV infection occurred in 15 (13.89%) patients with type 2 diabetes. A large number of patients 77 (71.29%) had poor glycemic control based on HbA1c levels, and only 31 (28.70%) patients had good glycemic control. The rate of HCV infections was significantly higher, 33.77% in patients with poor glycemic control compared with 22.58% in patients with good glycemic control, but the result was not statistically significant at a p value of 0.2536. Conclusion: The incidence of HCV infections among patients with type 2 diabetes with poor glycemic control is significantly high compared to patients with good glycemic control. Key words: type 2 diabetes, HCV, glycemic control, HbA1c