HCV Viral Hepatitis, Blood Sugar Level and Systolic Blood Pressure in Egypt

a cohort study on greater than 70000 Egyptian patients had been conducted. for all patients,1- we detected the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) RNA antigens ( hepatitis C virus)presence using BIOLINE HCV kits( qualitative test for diagnosis of hepatitis C virus in the blood), For all positive patients, confirmatory rapid screening test was performed and all patients who tested positive twice underwent a qPCR test using QIAampMinElute Virus Spin kit (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA) performed according to the manufacturer's recommended protocol.

2- Investigators measured blood sugar levels for each patient using ACCU-CHEK kits(finger stick sugar level measurement) 3- Measured systolic blood pressure for each patient was measured using mercury meters.

4-for all patients investigators obtained full medical history regarding the presence or absence of chronic diabetes, chronic hypertension, coronary artery disease, kidney impairment with dialysis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

5- for all patients investigators listed age, gender, and body mass index. 66121 patients were negative for HCV and 4852 were positive for HCV. Investigators measured the association between HCV presence, high blood sugar levels and high systolic blood pressure.

It is supposed that this is the largest study in the world that examined both associations.

In a word, this study was responding to a specific question: is hepatitis c virus presence is associated with high blood pressure or high sugar level or both or not associated???

Inclusion criteria

• Egyptian citizens from 18 years to 80 years.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients younger than 18 years or older than 80 years