Hepatitis C patients at risk for non-liver-related death

When people think of health complications caused by hepatitis C, liver problems are often the first thing that comes to mind. However, a recent study published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases found that individuals who have hepatitis C are at a higher risk of dying from non-hepatitis-related causes, compared to non-infected people.

Over the course of the study, which involved 203 people with chronic hepatitis C infection, 44 died - nine from liver-related causes - and the remaining 35 were due to HIV infection, diabetes, heart disease, cancer and other causes.

Compared to the general population, hepatitis C-positive participants had a two-fold increased risk of death, the findings showed.

The researchers said that this may be due to the fact that some individuals who contract the disease through high-risk behaviors may have also engaged in activities that increased their odds of developing heart disease or diabetes.

"This should reinforce the importance of preventive measures, particularly among individuals at-risk for acquiring the disease, as well as early diagnosis, and improving access to care for those already infected, even in the absence of liver disease," said lead researcher Samer El-Kamary.