Hyderabad: Hepatitis C not only affects the liver but also the heart, states a recent study done by Dr Naga V. Pothineni from Hyderabad at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences published in the American Journal of Cardiology.
The researchers examined 25,000 patients and compared the rate of heart attacks in patients with and without Hepatitis C.
They found that patients with active Hepatitis C had a 59 per cent higher chance of developing a heart attack related event compared to patients without Hepatitis C, even though they had the same cardiac risk factors like hypertension and diabetes.
Dr Pothineni said, “Results of this study have important implications. Novel therapies are being developed and most patients with Hepatitis C can now hope for a cure. Identifying Hepatitis C as a significant risk factor and treating it might help not only for recovery of liver function, but can also decrease the risk of heart disease in this population.”
Source : TOI
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