The Prevalence of Depression and Its Potential Link to Liver Fibrosis in Patients Diagnosed With Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection Prior to the Initiation of Direct-Acting Antiviral Treatment.

Autor:	Stoenescu AF; Infectious Diseases, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Dr. Victor Babes Hospital of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Bucharest, ROU., Popescu CP; Infectious Diseases, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Dr. Victor Babes Hospital of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Bucharest, ROU., Florescu SA; Infectious Diseases, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Dr. Victor Babes Hospital of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Bucharest, ROU., Vancea G; Infectious Diseases, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Dr. Victor Babes Hospital of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Bucharest, ROU., Ceausu E; Infectious Diseases, Academy of Medical Sciences, Dr. Victor Babes Hospital of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Bucharest, ROU., Calistru P; Infectious Diseases, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, ROU.
Jazyk:	angličtina
Zdroj:	Cureus [Cureus] 2024 Jun 23; Vol. 16 (6), pp. e62970. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Jun 23 (Print Publication: 2024).
DOI:	10.7759/cureus.62970
Abstrakt:	Introduction Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with various extrahepatic manifestations, including depression. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression in treatment-naive HCV patients and explore its potential association with liver fibrosis severity. Methodology A consecutive cohort of 50 treatment-naive HCV patients without coinfections was enrolled over six months. Depression was assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), and the liver fibrosis stage was evaluated using Fibroscan elastography. Results The cohort comprised 62% females (n=31) and 38% males (n=19), with ages ranging from 27 to 76 years. HAM-D scores indicated mild depression in 78% (n=39) and moderate depression in 16% (n=8) of patients. Notably, patients with mild depression displayed varying degrees of liver fibrosis (F0, F1, and F2), while all patients with moderate depression had advanced fibrosis (F3). Based on the multiple regression model, fibrosis was a statistically significant independent predictor with an unstandardized regression coefficient (B) of 3.115 (p=0.007). Conclusions Our findings point to a high prevalence of depression in treatment-naive HCV patients. Interestingly, there might be a link between depression severity and the stage of liver fibrosis, with advanced fibrosis potentially associated with more severe depression. Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. (Copyright © 2024, Stoenescu et al.)
Databáze:	MEDLINE
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