Dual Infection with Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatitis C Virus Correlated with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background Conflicting data exist regarding the relationship between dual infection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We assessed dual infection of HBV and HCV with the levels of blood glucose and development of DM. Methods A total of 9621 participants in a community-based study were enrolled from 18 towns in Maoli county of Taiwan. Blood samples were collected and tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibodies (HBsAb), antibodies against hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) and fasting plasma glucose. DM was defined as fasting plasma glucose≥126 mg per 100 ml. Results Only 0.7% of total participants had HBV/HCV coinfection. The prevalence of HBV and HCV monoinfection were 9.9 and 5.7%, respectively. Adjusted blood glucose levels and development risk of T2DM (odds ratio [OR], 2.55; p Conclusions Our study shows HBV/HCV coinfection was significantly correlated with blood glucose levels. A significant proportion (28%) of participants with HBV/HCV coinfection developed T2DM. Although the precise mechanisms of dual positive infection of HBV and HCV are unclear, there is increasing evidence that dual infection of HCV and HBV is strongly associated with the development of T2DM.