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Prevalence of moderate and severe depression among Croatian patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus

Branko Kolarić1, Vanja Tesić, Davor Ivanković

  • 1Croatian National Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia. branko.kolaric@hzjz.hr

Collegium Antropologicum
|May 19, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Depression is more prevalent in Croatian patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) than in the general population. Male patients with chronic infectious diseases, including HIV, show higher depression scores.

Area of Science:

  • Medical research
  • Infectious diseases
  • Mental health

Background:

  • Depression is a significant comorbidity in patients with infectious diseases.
  • Understanding depression prevalence in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients is crucial for comprehensive care.
  • Croatian HIV patients were compared to those with other infectious diseases to identify specific risk factors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of depression in Croatian patients with HIV.
  • To compare depression rates between HIV patients and those with chronic viral hepatitis or acute infectious diarrhea.
  • To analyze gender-specific differences in depression scores among these patient groups.

Main Methods:

  • The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) questionnaire was used to assess depressive disorder.
  • A cohort of 80 HIV-infected patients was compared with 80 patients with chronic viral hepatitis and 78 with acute infectious diarrhea.
  • Data were collected from outpatients at the University Hospital for Infectious Diseases in Zagreb.

Main Results:

  • The prevalence of moderate to severe depression among HIV-infected patients was 20% (95% CI: 11%–29%).
  • Male patients with HIV or chronic viral hepatitis had significantly higher BDI scores than males with acute infectious diarrhea (p=0.017).
  • Female HIV patients showed a trend towards lower BDI scores compared to females with chronic viral hepatitis or acute infectious diarrhea (p=0.087).

Conclusions:

  • The prevalence of moderate to severe depression in Croatian HIV-positive patients exceeds estimates for the general population.
  • Croatian males with chronic infectious diseases exhibit higher depression rates than those with acute infectious diseases.
  • These findings highlight the need for mental health screening and support in HIV-infected individuals and those with chronic infectious diseases.

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