Background and study aim: Egypt has
the highest prevalence of hepatitis C virus
(HCV) infection in the world and is
facing an epidemic of type 2 diabetes
mellitus. The objective of this study was
to assess the frequency of prediabetes in
patients with chronic HCV infection.
Subjects and Methods: A crosssectional study was performed on 60
HCV patients. Twenty healthy persons
were taken as controls. Full history
taking, clinical examination, routine
laboratory and radiological investigations
were done Body mass index (BMI), Waist
Hip ratio, serum fasting glucose and
fasting insulin were determined. IR was
calculated by the Homeostasis Model for
Assessment of Insulin Resistance
(HOMA-IR), where values less than 2 has
been considered completely normal and
higher than 2 as a prediabetic state.
Results: Serum fasting glucose, fasting
insulin and HOMA-IR levels were
significantly higher among HCV group
compared with control group. The
frequency of prediabetic (HOMA-IR
values >2) among non-diabetic chronic
HCV patients is 63.33%.
Conclusion: Chronic HCV patients
should be screened regularly for insulin
resistance to avoid the double burden of
diabetes mellitus and HCV.