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A growing number of reports suggest a connection between hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, the association of HCV infection with diabetes-related complications has not yet been clarified. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HCV infection in T2D-patients in Kuwait which has a high incidence of type 2 diabetes, and to investigate the association between HCV viremia and diabetes-related complications. A total of 438 patients with T2D (325 Kuwaitis and 113 Egyptians), and 440 control subjects, were enrolled for this study. HCV infection was assessed by testing for serum HCV-specific antibodies, and by detection of HCV RNA. HCV viral load and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels were assessed in patients with and without diabetes complications. Thirty one (7%) out of 438 T2D-patients had evidence of HCV infection compared to 4 (1%) out of 440 control adults (p<0.0001). The prevalence of HCV infection in Kuwaiti and Egyptian T2D-patients was 3% and 18%, respectively. Most of the HCV sequences detected in T2D patients and control subjects were of genotype 4. The HbA1c levels in T2D-patients with HCV viremia were significantly higher than those in HCV-negative patients. HCV viremia, female sex, age, family history of diabetes were found to be independent risk factors for diabetes complications. The results suggest that T2D-patients in Kuwait have higher prevalence of HCV infection than controls, and that HCV viremia is associated with diabetes-related complications.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of impaired glucose regulation in a young, asymptomatic Kuwaiti population. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study of 484 Kuwaitis (females: 311, and males: 173, aged 17–24 years), students at a public college for basic education, was conducted. Each participant underwent a 75-gram oral glucose tolerance test, and biochemical testing for hemoglobin A_1c (HbA_1c), total cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Physical examinations were performed to measure body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and blood pressure. Results: The prevalence of impaired glucose regulation (impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance, and elevated HbA_1c levels) was 32%, including 4% with newly diagnosed diabetes. Of the 484 participants, 47 (10%) of the population had hypertension and 52 (11%) had dyslipidemia. A total of 244 (50%) were classified as overweight/obese (BMI >25 kg/m²) and 201 (42%) had an elevated waist circumference (≧88 cm in females; ≧102 cm in males). Impaired glucose regulation was significantly related to increased waist circumference (p = 0.021) but not to increased BMI (p = 0.181). Those with impaired glucose regulation also had a higher prevalence of hypertension (p = 0.05), particularly systolic hypertension (p = 0.023). Conclusion: Kuwaiti youth have a high prevalence of impaired glucose regulation and overweight/obesity. Waist circumference, rather than BMI, may be a more appropriate screening tool to predict impaired glucose regulation in Kuwaiti youth.

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