Impact of Hepatitis C Virus Clearance on Cardiovascular Risk: A Real‐World Experience From the Nationwide Taiwan Hepatitis C Virus Registry

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD); however, the impact of interferon (IFN)-based therapy on cardiovascular outcomes remains unclear. This nationwide cohort study included 7411 patients with HCV from The Taiwanese Chronic Hepatitis C Cohort registry who received IFN-based therapy between 2003 and 2014. Patients were categorized into sustained virological response (SVR) (n = 5785) and non-SVR (n = 1676) groups. The incidence of new-onset CVD events, including stroke, coronary artery disease, heart failure, and arrhythmia, was assessed using three Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for different sets of confounding factors. The cumulative CVD incidence was comparable in the SVR and non-SVR groups (11.2% vs. 10.2%, p = 0.609). SVR was not significantly associated with a reduced overall CVD risk among the three models [hazards ratio (HR) = 0.88, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.71-1.05, p = 0.158]. However, a lower risk of stroke was observed in patients who achieved an SVR, although the difference was not significant (HR = 0.84, 95% CI: 0.74-0.94). The results of the sensitivity analyses confirmed these findings. An SVR following IFN-based therapy did not substantially reduce the overall CVD risk; however, a potential reduction in stroke risk was observed. These results emphasize the importance of long-term cardiovascular risk assessments and highlight the need for further research, particularly in the direct-acting antiviral era in which increased cardiovascular benefits may be expected.

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Journal
The Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences
Published
2025-05-24
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/kjm2.70036
Primary Topic
Hepatitis C virus research
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article
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article

Impact of Hepatitis C Virus Clearance on Cardiovascular Risk: A Real‐World Experience From the Nationwide Taiwan Hepatitis C Virus Registry

Meng‐Hsuan Hsieh, Pei‐Chien Tsai, Gin‐Ho Lo, Chih‐Wen Lin et al.
The Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences
Hepatitis C virus research
article

Impact of Hepatitis C Virus Clearance on Cardiovascular Risk: A Real‐World Experience From the Nationwide Taiwan Hepatitis C Virus Registry

Meng‐Hsuan Hsieh, Pei‐Chien Tsai, Gin‐Ho Lo, Chih‐Wen Lin, Chao‐Hung Hung, Chi‐Yi Chen, Chung‐Yen Lin, Ming‐Jong Bair, Jyh‐Jou Chen, Chia‐Chi Wang, Chen‐Hua Liu, Pei‐Lun Lee, Chia‐Yen Dai, Rong‐Nan Chien, Chi‐Ming Tai, Jee‐Fu Huang, Kuo‐Chih Tseng, Ming‐Lun Yeh, Chung‐Feng Huang, Jia‐Horng Kao, Cheng‐Yuan Peng, Wei‐Wen Su, Yi‐Hsiang Huang, Wei‐Lun Tsai, Ming‐Lung Yu, Chun‐Jen Liu, Sheng‐Lei Yan, Hsing‐Tao Kuo, Yen‐Hsiange Wang, Pin‐Nan Cheng, Yen‐Cheng Chiu, Han‐Chieh Lin, Ping‐Jen Hu, Gin‐Ho Lo, Hsueh‐Chou Lai, Jin‐Shiung Cheng, Shui‐Yi Tung, Wan‐Long Chung, Cheng‐Hsin Chu, Chih‐Jen Chen, Chi‐Chieh Yang, Jing‐Houng Wang
article en

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD); however, the impact of interferon (IFN)-based therapy on cardiovascular outcomes remains unclear. This nationwide cohort study included 7411 patients with HCV from The Taiwanese Chronic Hepatitis C Cohort registry who received IFN-based therapy between 2003 and 2014. Patients were categorized into sustained virological response (SVR) (n = 5785) and non-SVR (n = 1676) groups. The incidence of new-onset CVD events, including stroke, coronary artery disease, heart failure, and arrhythmia, was assessed using three Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for different sets of confounding factors. The cumulative CVD incidence was comparable in the SVR and non-SVR groups (11.2% vs. 10.2%, p = 0.609). SVR was not significantly associated with a reduced overall CVD risk among the three models [hazards ratio (HR) = 0.88, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.71-1.05, p = 0.158]. However, a lower risk of stroke was observed in patients who achieved an SVR, although the difference was not significant (HR = 0.84, 95% CI: 0.74-0.94). The results of the sensitivity analyses confirmed these findings. An SVR following IFN-based therapy did not substantially reduce the overall CVD risk; however, a potential reduction in stroke risk was observed. These results emphasize the importance of long-term cardiovascular risk assessments and highlight the need for further research, particularly in the direct-acting antiviral era in which increased cardiovascular benefits may be expected.

The Kaohsiung Journal of Medical SciencesVol. 41(8)
National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (TW), Kaohsiung Medical University (TW), National Taiwan University (TW), Chang Gung University (TW), China Medical University (TW), Tzu Chi Foundation (TW), Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital (TW), Mackay Memorial Hospital (TW), Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (TW), National Yang Ming University Hospital (TW), E-Da Hospital (TW), Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (TW), Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital (TW), Chia-Yi Christian Hospital (TW), Chang Bing Show Chwan Memorial Hospital (TW), China Medical University Hospital (TW), National Taiwan University Hospital (TW), Chi Mei Medical Center (TW), St. Martin de Porres Hospital (TW), Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital (TW), Chiayi Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (TW), Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital (TW), National Cheng Kung University Hospital (TW), Changhua Christian Hospital (TW), Taipei Medical University (TW), I-Shou University (TW)
Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital, Health and Welfare Data Science Center
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 83%
Hepatitis C virus research
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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