Association of Hepatitis C Virus Seropositivity With Inflammatory Markers and Heart Failure in Persons With Coronary Heart Disease: Data From the Heart and Soul Study

Abstract

Background How hepatitis C virus (HCV) affects coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors and outcomes is largely unknown. Methods and Results Among a cohort of patients with stable CHD, we examined the association between HCV seropositivity and levels of inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein [CRP], fibrinogen, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α) and risk for the following outcomes: death, cardiovascular (CV) events, and heart failure events. A total of 84 (8.6%) participants were found to be seropositive for HCV. HCV-seropositive patients were found to have significantly lower adjusted mean levels of CRP (2.6 vs. 4.4; P < .01) and fibrinogen (340 vs. 398; P < .01), but higher levels of TNF-α (7.1 vs. 4.8; P < .01). Age-adjusted rates for HCV seropositive vs. seronegative were as follows: death 93 vs. 42/1,000 p-y ( P < .01), CV events 62 vs. 40 ( P = .13), and heart failure 76 vs. 29 ( P < .01). After adjustment for demographic and clinical factors, HCV remained significantly associated with an increased risk for heart failure events (HR = 2.13; 95% CI: 1.19–3.80). Conclusions In this cohort with CHD, HCV seropositive participants had higher rates of death, CV events, and heart failure hospitalizations during follow-up. After adjustment for CV risk factors, HCV seropositivity remained independently associated with risk for heart failure events.