Association of Insulin Resistance with Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C Infection: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV and HCV) are the most common causes of chronic viral hepatitis in the United States and worldwide. As several studies have shown that some viral infections promote Insulin Resistance (IR), it becomes imperative to investigate the effect of HBV and HCV on the same. Aim: To investigate the association between IR and Hepatitis C and Hepatitis B infection. Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Paramedical and Health Sciences, Parul Institute of Paramedical and Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Parul University, Vadodara, Gujarat, India, from November 2022 to June 2023. The study comprised 100 consecutive patients, with 55% testing positive for Hepatitis B and 45% for Hepatitis C. Biochemical parameters such as fasting blood sugar, fasting insulin and IR via the Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA-IR) were determined. Statistical analysis was performed using International Business Machines (IBM) Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 26.0. The z -test of proportion was calculated and a Z -score calculator was used for p -value. Results: In the present study, out of 100 consecutive patients, 76 were males and 24 were females. The mean insulin level for HBV patients was found to be high, with values of 28.94 +/- 2.22 mU/L in 23.63% of cases, whereas in HCV cases, 68.8% of patients were found to have higher levels, with mean values of 34.52 +/- 9.00 mU/L. The mean HOMA-IR values for HBV patients were found to be high, at 4.84 +/- 2.32 in 47.27% of cases, whereas in HCV cases, 77.7% of patients were found to have higher values of HOMA-IR, with a mean of 7.94 +/- 4.83. Conclusion: Insulin resistance can be a consequence of the inability of insulin to induce the appropriate effect on glucose metabolism and is the principal indication for the development of metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus. In the current study, HCV-positive patients showed more IR compared to HBV-positive cases.