Prevalence and outcome of chronic hepatitis C patients admitted with COVID-19 to intensive care units: a blessing in disguise

Managing COVID-19 pneumonia is, in reality, one of the biggest challenges in the history of intensive care medicine. The link between comorbidity and COVID-19 remains unclear. Worldwide, Egypt has the highest prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV). The study’s objectives were to assess the prevalence of chronic hepatitis C as a risk factor among COVID-19 patients and to investigate the impact of it and the prior exposure to different HCV management protocols on the clinical characteristics and outcome of COVID-19 patients. Of 2106 confirmed cases of COVID-19, CLD, malignancy, and chronic kidney disease were significant risk factors for death [OR (95% CI) = 2.78 (1.29–5.98), 2.72 (1.14–6.46) and 3.79 (1.39–10.36) respectively]. The mortality rate was 24.3%. A total of 99 cases (4.7%) with CLD were investigated during the study period; 69 patients (3.3%) were categorized as HCV-positive. Among the positive HCV cases, 49 patients (2.3%) received anti-hepatitis C medications. The mortality rate was 46.4% and 73.3% between HCV and non-HCV hepatic patients, respectively. Triple therapy showed a statistically significant association with a better outcome (p value = 0.009). In the present report, chronic liver diseases, chronic kidney disease, and malignancy were significant risk factors for mortality among COVID-19 patients. The Egyptian mass management of chronic hepatitis C may explain the favorable outcome of COVID-19 among these patients. Intervention trials are required to prove that direct-acting antivirals are effective in preventing COVID-19.