Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Journal of Medical Virology, cilt.98, sa.4, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a life-threatening viral hemorrhagic fever with a highly variable clinical course. While viral and inflammatory markers determining disease severity are well defined, the impact of the host's metabolic status on CCHF severity remains largely unexplored. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between metabolic syndrome components, lipid profile, and disease severity in patients with CCHF. This single-center, prospective, case-control study included 74 polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed CCHF patients and 31 healthy controls. Patients were stratified into mild and moderate-severe disease groups based on clinical findings and severity grading scores. Metabolic parameters, including body mass index (BMI), fasting blood glucose (FBG), and lipid profile, were compared between patient and control groups as well as according to disease severity. The patient and control groups were similar in terms of age, gender, BMI, and FBG levels. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), levels were significantly lower in CCHF patients compared to the control group (p = 0.042), while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), levels were lower with borderline significance (p = 0.051). Patients in the moderate-severe disease group had significantly higher BMI (p = 0.010), FBG (p < 0.01), and triglyceride levels (p = 0.033) compared to those with mild disease. ROC analysis demonstrated that an FBG cut-off value of > 105 mg/dL had the highest discriminatory power in predicting severe disease (AUC: 0.761). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, FBG (OR: 1.026; 95% CI: 1.007–1.045; p = 0.007) was identified as independent factors associated with disease severity. Metabolic parameters, particularly FBG and triglyceride levels, are significantly associated with disease severity in CCHF. Evaluation of the metabolic status at admission may contribute to early risk stratification and the improvement of clinical management in CCHF patients.