Association of Diabetes Mellitus with Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C Virus Infection: Evidence from an Epidemiological Study

Objective: To study the association between glucose metabolism disorders and hepatotropic virus infection.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was performed using data from the REACTION study (Risk Evaluation of Cancers in Chinese Diabetic Individuals: A Longitudinal Study). Outcomes of the analysis were test results of kidney function, liver function, lipid metabolism, and the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and potential hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection (positive hepatitis C virus antibody) among individuals with and without diabetes mellitus (DM) or pre-diabetes mellitus (pre-DM).

Results: Of the 10,080 patients who participated in the study, 7665 eligible subjects were included in the analysis. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of HBV infection between DM and normal subjects, pre-DM and normal subjects, and DM or pre-DM and normal subjects (-values of 0.9180, 0.8154, and 0.6448, respectively). There was also no significant difference in the prevalence of potential HCV infection between DM and normal subjects, pre-DM and normal subjects, and DM or pre-DM and normal subjects (-values of 0.1190, 0.0591, and 0.5591, respectively). Lipid metabolism showed a significant difference between DM or pre-DM subjects and normal subjects (-values were less than 0.0221 in all cases). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed hypertension as the leading significant variable associated with DM, pre-DM, and both. Other significant factors included gender, body mass index, age, and alanine aminotransferase.

Conclusion: No significant association was detected between DM or pre-DM and HBV or potential HCV infection. Significant association was detected between lipid metabolism disorders and DM, but this association was absent in pre-DM patients when adjusting for other factors.