Cardiovascular risk stratification in patients with hepatitis C in pharmacotherapeutic follow-up at the specialized services: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the risk of occurrence of possible coronary events in a period of up to 10 years in patients with hepatitis C in pharmacotherapeutic follow-up, treated with direct acting antivirals. In this way, to verify if there is a correlation between the possible intervening variables with the Framingham Risk Score (FRS), and whether the variables can predict the Cardiovascular Risk (CVR) in patients. Methods: This is a cross-sectional observational study, was performed in the municipality of Uruguaiana, in southern Brazil. Data were collected from 71 medical records of patients with hepatitis C, who were being followed up at the Viral Hepatitis Outpatient Clinic. The CVR was evaluated from the FRS. Statistical analysis involved Student’s t test for comparison between means, Pearson’s chisquare for association of RCV with categorical variables, and Pearson or Spearman correlation to assess correlations with intervening continuous variables, according to distribution. A multiple linear regression model was also used. For all cases, the level of significance was considered when p<0.05. Results: The CVR considered moderate/high was present in most patients. The use of antihypertensive drugs and the self-reported diagnosis of diabetes were markedly associated with the FRS result. Except for the time since diagnosis of hepatitis C, the other continuous variables evaluated were correlated with moderate/high CVR. The linear regression model was able to predict up to 62% the CVR in patients with hepatitis C. Conclusion: The FRS has been shown to be effective in the stratification of CVR in patients with hepatitis C. It’s a simple tool and easily available to pharmacists who carry out the care of these patients. Thus, it is possible to prevent cardiovascular comorbidities that may be associated with hepatitis C.