Impact of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) on cardiovascular diseases in patients with chronic hepatitis C

INTRODUCTION: In the last years the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was a relevant public health problem due to the large number of affected people worldwide and the impact on hepatic and extrahepatic complications. The availability of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) and the very high rate of sustained virological response (SVR) after treatment has radically changed the course of HCV chronic infection. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: We searched PubMed for articles published between January 1, 1995, through December 31, 2020, in English language. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Robust evidence showed a close link between HCV infection and development of cardiovascular disease (CVD), as result of the atherogenic effect of the virus. CONCLUSIONS: This review aimed to explore the evidence linking HCV infection with cardiovascular disease and to evaluate the impact of SVR after DAAs on cardiovascular complications.