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.

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]-alpha) 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-alpha (7.1 vs. 4.8; P < .01). Age-adjusted rates for HCV seropositive vs. seronegative were as follows: death 93 vs. 42/1,000p-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.