Hepatitis B And Hepatitis C Viral Infections And Associated Factors Among Patients With Diabetes Visiting Gondar Referral Teaching Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Yihenew Million,1 Takele Teklu,2 Shitaye Alemu,3 Aster Ferede,4 Teshome Belachew,1 Kassu Desta5 1Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; 2Department of Immunology and Molecular Biology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; 3Department of Chronic Diseases, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; 4Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia; 5Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Allied Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Yihenew MillionDepartment of Medical Microbiology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, PO Box 196, Gondar, EthiopiaTel [phone]Email [email protected]: The liver is the major site of Hepatitis B virus and Hepatitis C virus replications. Patients with diabetes tend to be at an increased risk for developing various forms of liver diseases. The infection of the liver can cause or exacerbate diabetes. On the other hand, diabetes can cause or intensify the severity of liver infection. This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted with the aim to determine the prevalence of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C virus infections and associated factors among patients with diabetes visiting the University of Gondar referral teaching hospital, northwest Ethiopia.Results: Out of the 610 participants (305 patients with diabetes, 305 people with no diabetes) of the study, 65 (10.7%) were positive for Hepatitis infections, of whom 44 (14.4%) and 21 (6.9%) were positive for at least one of the viruses in patients with diabetes and people with no diabetes, respectively. Out of the diabetic and non-diabetic groups of the study, 26 (8.5%) and 14 (4.6%) (95% CI, 0.96–4.02) were positive for Hepatitis B virus, respectively, while 23 (7.5%) and 7 (2.3%) (95% CI, 1.46–8.68) of the diabetes and non-diabetic groups were positive for Hepatitis C virus, respectively. History of blood transfusion (95% CI, 1.36–12.71) and unprotected sex (95% CI, 1.25–10.15) were significantly associated with Hepatitis B virus infection, while the type of diabetes (95% CI, 1.25–10.89) was associated with anti-Hepatitis C virus positivity.Conclusion: Positivity for Hepatitis C virus was significantly associated with Type II diabetes. Blood transfusion and unprotected sex were risk factors for Hepatitis B virus infections. Further studies that elaborate temporal associations and find out explanations for the relationship between diabetes and Hepatitis C viral infections are of paramount importance.Keywords: HBV, HCV, DM, co-infection

Keywords

• HBV
• HCV
• DM
• Co-infection