VIRAL HEPATITIS C IN ADULT DIABETICS IN COTONOU IN 2023: PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS.

Introduction: Diabetes and chronic liver diseases such as viral hepatitis C (HVC) are global public health problems. The combination of the 2 increases the risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate viral hepatitis C in adult diabetics in referral health centers in Cotonou.

Methods: This was a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study with prospective data collection from July to October 2023 at the Clinique Universitaire d'Endocrinologie Métabolisme Nutrition of the CNHU-HKM, and at the Banque d'insuline d'Akpakpa. A rapid test was used to diagnose hepatitis C and the C viral load determined by PCR. Hepatic fibrosis was assessed by the APRI (ASAT to platelet ratio Index) score.

Results: A total of 281 patients were included, with a mean age of 60.4±11.2 years, ranging from 22 to 88 years, and a sex ratio of 0.6. Anti-HCV antibodies were positive in 5 patients, for a prevalence of 1.7%, including 2 with detectable HCV RNA PCR (0.7% of the study population). Factors associated with HCV were, in bivariate analysis, hepatic cytolysis (p=0.005), prothrombin level (p=0.015), APRI score (p=0.003) and insulin therapy (p=0.030). In multivariate analysis, surgical history (p=0.045) and insulin therapy (p=0.030) were statistically associated with the presence of anti-HCV antibodies in diabetics.

Conclusion: Viral hepatitis C is fairly common in adult diabetics, especially those with a history of surgery or on insulin therapy. Screening of diabetics for viral hepatitis C would be useful to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with this association.