Hepatitis C virus infection among patients with diabetes mellitus in Dammam, Saudi Arabia

Background: Data regarding comorbidities of hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) are lacking. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of HCV among Saudi patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) in Dammam, KSA. Methods: In this cross-sectional study done in 2011, a total of 1054 Saudi DM patients were randomly selected from the Diabetes Center in Dammam Medical Complex, KSA, for interview and HCV screening using the HCV Rapid Test. Positive cases were later confirmed via INNO-LIA HCV score line immune assay. Results: Seropositivity of HCV was 1.9 %. DM duration of >5 years increased the probability of HCV risk to 3.7 fold while insulin users were 3.2 times more likely to have HCV infection. Increased hospital admission (3-4 times) also increased HCV risk by 11.5 times and 13.6 times among patients with ≥5 admissions. Similarly, having 3-4 surgical procedures increased HCV risk by 8.6 times and 39.3 times with ≥5 procedures. HCV transmission is 4 times more likely by blood transfusion. Those who shared personal items were 8.5 times more likely to have HCV. Tattooing increased HCV risk by 6.7 times. The likelihood of HCV infection was also higher among DM patients with liver diseases and elevated liver enzymes. Conclusion: The study confirmed a significant association between HCV risk and DM. Frequency of HCV among DM Saudis was 1.9 %. Predictors of HCV among DM patients were sharing personal items, occupational exposure to blood or its products, elevated transaminases, tattooing, disease duration > 5 years, increased hospital admission and blood transfusion.