Chronic hepatitis C is a protective factor against having metabolic syndrome and this effect might be due to lower triglyceride level in the elderly. Further studies are warranted for the underlying mechanisms.
ABSTRACT
Background: In Taiwan, subjects over 65 years old have higher prevalence of hepatitis C. Among these patients, around 50% have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Since cardiovascular diseases and diabetes are main causes of death in this age group, in this cross-sectional study, we tried to evaluate the effects of NAFLD and hepatitis C on the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS).