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Updated: May 10, 2026

Measuring Frailty in HIV-infected Individuals. Identification of Frail Patients is the First Step to Amelioration and Reversal of Frailty
05:53

Measuring Frailty in HIV-infected Individuals. Identification of Frail Patients is the First Step to Amelioration and Reversal of Frailty

Published on: July 24, 2013

Depression and fatigue in chronic hepatitis C patients with and without HIV co-infection

Mohammad Tavakkoli1, Stephen J Ferrando, Judith Rabkin

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, NY-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY.

Psychosomatics
|June 13, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Depression and fatigue are common in chronic hepatitis C (CHC). HIV-positive patients and those without a history of IV drug use reported fewer symptoms, while methadone users had higher depression rates.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Psychiatry
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is frequently associated with depression and fatigue.
  • These symptoms significantly impact patient quality of life and treatment adherence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify clinical predictors of depression and fatigue in patients with CHC.
  • To understand the prevalence of these conditions in a university clinic setting.

Main Methods:

  • 167 CHC patients completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS).
  • Major depressive disorder (MDD) and clinically significant fatigue (FSS score ≥41) were assessed.
  • Logistic and multiple regression analyses were used to identify predictors.

Main Results:

  • 33% of patients had MDD and 52% had significant fatigue.
  • HIV-coinfection was associated with lower rates of MDD and fatigue (OR=0.47, 0.46).
  • MDD was least common in non-IV drug users (OR=0.28) and most common in methadone users (OR=3.57). Fatigue was less severe in non-IV drug users and former IV drug users compared to methadone users.

Conclusions:

  • High prevalence of depression and fatigue in CHC patients is confirmed.
  • HIV-positivity may be linked to protective support systems, reducing symptom rates.
  • Routine screening for depression and fatigue is crucial in CHC populations.
Abstract

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