Study: Hepatitis C Is a Cardiovascular Risk Factor

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease development and raises the cost of care and duration of hospital visits, according to a recent study.

In the study, investigators found that the prevalence of hospital patients diagnosed with HCV infection was 1.9%. In these patients, the adjusted odds ratio (OR) for acute myocardial infarction was 2.29 (CL: 2.22-2.36), OR for coronary artery disease was 1.88 (Cl: 1.83-1.93), OR for cerebrovascular accident was 1.98(cl: 1.93-2.04), and OR for congestive heart failure was 1.08 (Cl: 1.06-1.10).
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Based on these results, researchers concluded that chronic HCV infection should be considered a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

The complete study was presented at the 2015 International Liver Congress in Vienna, Austria.

-Michelle Canales Butcher

Reference:

Wubiee F, Howell C. Hepatitis C infection is associated with an increase in cardiovascular diseases. Presented at the 2015 International Liver Congress. Vienna, Austria. https://ilc-congress.eu/programme-ebook/files/basic-html/page250.html