AIM To investigate the prevalence and the risk factors ofglucose intolerance in Chinese patients with chronic hepatitisC and to evaluate the relationship between interferon(IFN)treatment and glucose intolerance in these patients.METHODS:Prospective cross-sectional study was done toevaluate the prevalence of glucose intolerance in Chinesepatients with chronic hepatitis C virus(HCV)infection fromthe outpatient clinic of Department of Family Medicine,TaipeiVeterans General Hospital.Chronic hepatitis C was definedas persistent presence of anti-HCV and persistent elevationof liver transaminase for at least 1.5 folds for at least 6months.Moreover,patients were further categorized intonormal fasting glucose and glucose intolerance(diabetesmellitus(DM)and impaired fasting glucose)according tothe diagnostic criteria of American Diabetic Association.RESULTS:Totally,359 Chinese patients with chronichepatitis C were enrolled(212 males and 147 females,meanage=58.1±13.0 years).One hundred and twenty-threepatients(34.3 %)had received various forms of IFNtreatment.One hundred and twenty-five patients(34.6 %)had glucose intolerance,including 99 patients(27.6 %)withDM and 26 patients(7.0 %)with impaired fasting glucose.In comparison with those with normal fasting glucose levels,patients with chronic hepatitis C with glucose intolerancewere significantly older,had a significantly higher bodymass index,and they were more likely to suffer fromobesity,to have family history of diabetes and to have hadprevious IFN treatment.Stepwise multivariate logisticregression revealed significantly that age≥57 years,obesity,previous history of IFN treatment and the presence of familyhistory of diabetes were independent risk factors associatedwith the presence of glucose intolerance in chronic hepatitisC patients CONCLUSION: In conclusion, 34.6%of Chinese patientswith chronic hepatitis C had glucose intolerance. Chronic hepatitis C patients who were older in age, obese, had previous IFN treatment history and had family history of s were prone knowledge, this is the to develop glucose intolerance. To our first population-based report to confirm that interferon treatment to be an independent risk factor to develop glucose intolerance. AIM To investigate the prevalence and the risk factors of glucose intolerance in Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis C and to evaluate the relationship between interferon (IFN) treatment and glucose intolerance in these patients. METHODS: Prospective cross-sectional study was done to evaluate the prevalence of glucose intolerance in Chinesepatients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection fromthe outpatient clinic of Department of Family Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital. Chronic hepatitis C was defined as persistent presence of anti-HCV and persistent elevationof liver transaminase for at least 1.5 folds for at least 6months. Furthermore, the patients were further categorized intonormal fasting glucose and glucose intolerance (diabetes mellitus (DM) and impaired fasting glucose) according to tothe diagnostic criteria of American Diabetic Association. RESULTS: Totally, 359 Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis C were enrolled (212 males and 147 females, meanage = 58.1 ± 13.0 years) .One hundred and twent Three patients (34.3%) had received various forms of IFN treatment. One hundred and twenty-five patients (34.6%) had glucose intolerance, including 99 patients (27.6%) with DM and 26 patients (7.0%) with impaired fasting glucose. comparison with those with normal fasting glucose levels, patients with chronic hepatitis C with glucose intolerancewere significantly older, had a significantly higher bodymass index, and they were more likely to suffer fromobesity, to have family history of diabetes and to have hadprevious IFN treatment.Stepwise multivariate logisticregression revealed significantly that age≥57 years, obesity, previous history of IFN treatment and the presence of family history of diabetes were independent risk factors associated with the presence of glucose intolerance in chronic hepatitisC patients CONCLUSION: In conclusion, 34.6% of Chinese patientswith chronic hepatitis C had glucose intolerance. Chronic hepatitis C patients who were older in age, obese, had previous previous IFN treatment h istory and had family history of s were prone knowledge, this is the to develop developng glucose intolerance.