Sex and age differences in lipid response to Hep C
The most recent issue of the Journal of Viral Hepatitis investigates sex and age differences in lipid response to chronic infection with the hepatitis C virus in the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys.
Low levels of serum lipids were reported in subjects chronically infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and correlated with poorer clinical outcomes.
Whether HCV ‘hypo-lipidemia’ is constant across age, sex and race has not been systematically explored.
Dr Lao and colleagues from North Carolina, USA investigated the association between HCV infection and serum lipid levels in 2 independent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cohorts.
HCV antibody status and serum lipid levels were obtained from 14,369 adults from NHANES 1999–2006 and 12,261 from NHANES III.
Among women less than 50 years of age, the odds ratio was 3 for NHANEs III
Journal of Viral Hepatitis
The research team found that the prevalence of HCV-associated hypo-low density lipoprotein-cholesterol was highest among women more than 50 years of age in both NHANES 1999–2006 and III.
However, among women less than 50 years of age, the odds ratios were 3 for NHANES 1999–2006 and 0.5 for III, respectively.
HCV by age interaction among women was significant in both cohorts.
Among men, the odds ratios of HCV-associated hypo-LDL-cholesterol were 2.7 in NHANES 1999–2006, and 3.8 in III, respectively, with no significant age effects.
The team observed similar patterns for total-cholesterol, but no significantly discernable patterns for high density lipoprotein-cholesterol and triglycerides.
Dr Lao's team commented, "Results show that HCV infection is associated with lower total- and LDL-cholesterol in 2 US population-based cohorts, and this relationship varies significantly by age and sex, suggesting a possible influence of sex hormones on host lipid response to HCV infection."
J Viral Hep 2011: 18(8): 571–579
28 July 201128 July 2011
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