Metabolic dysfunction, cirrhosis, and HCV genotype 3a drive type 2 diabetes risk in chronic hepatitis C: a Southern Chinese cohort study.

BACKGROUND

Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, regional variations in HCV genotypes and clinical characteristics may influence this association. This study aimed to investigate the association between chronic hepatitis C virus (CHC) infection and the development of T2DM in CHC patients in Southern China.

METHODS

A retrospective case-control cohort study analyzed 442 CHC patients (242 without T2DM, 200 with T2DM) from 2010 to 2018. Biochemical parameters, HCV genotypes, and clinical characteristics were compared. Multivariate logistic regression and ROC analysis were performed to evaluate predictors of T2DM.

RESULTS

The CHC + T2DM group exhibited significantly higher age (P < 0.001), BMI (P = 0.001), fasting blood glucose (P < 0.001), fasting insulin (P = 0.015), HOMA-IR (Homeostasis Model Assessment-Insulin Resistance) index (P < 0.001), transaminases alanine transaminase (ALT) (P < 0.001) and aspartate transaminase (AST) (P < 0.001), total bilirubin (P < 0.001), γ-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT) (P < 0.001), and cirrhosis prevalence (P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that age (OR: 1.09), fasting blood glucose (OR: 16.20), fasting insulin (OR: 1.23), HOMA-IR (OR: 0.48), and GGT (OR: 1.01), cirrhosis (OR: 15.32) and hypertension (OR: 31.00) were the risk factors of T2DM in CHC patients. HCV genotype distribution differed significantly between CHC and CHC + DM groups (P = 0.008), with genotype 3a more prevalent in CHC + DM (2.07% vs. 11.36%, P = 0.032). Receiver Operating Characteristic curve analysis highlighted fasting glucose (AUC = 0.904) as the strongest predictor.

CONCLUSION

Age, metabolic dysregulation, liver cirrhosis, hypertension, and HCV genotype 3a are key risk factors for T2DM in CHC patients. Early screening for glucose intolerance and genotype-specific interventions are critical in high-risk populations.