The eradication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) with interferon-free direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) has transformed the management of chronic HCV infection. Chronic HCV infection is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and poor glycemic control. However, the magnitude and consistency of improvement in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) after DAA-induced sustained virologic response (SVR) in patients with established T2DM remain unclear. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of six cohort studies comprising 2805 patients. Overall, DAA therapy was associated with a significant reduction in HbA1c after SVR, with a pooled random-effect mean difference of −0.45% (95% CI −0.74% to −0.16%; I2 = 97.8%). This effect is highly heterogeneous but suggests that HCV may be a modifiable contributor to chronic hyperglycemia. These findings highlight the need for close glucose monitoring and individualized adjustment of antidiabetic therapy after SVR to optimize metabolic outcomes.
Hu et al. (Fri,) studied this question.
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