Baseline Comorbidities Enhance the Risk of Treatment-Induced Depression in HCV-Infected Men: A Pilot Study
Julia D Rempel1, Carla Krueger2, Gerald Y Minuk3
1Section of Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Department of Immunology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada julia.rempel@med.umanitoba.ca.
Insights
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can lead to depression, especially during interferon therapy. Men with existing health conditions are more likely to develop new-onset depression when treated for HCV.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Psychiatry
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is linked to depression, which can worsen with interferon therapy.
- Men with HCV infection may seem more resilient to depression but can be susceptible to comorbid conditions.
- Pre-existing comorbidities in men with HCV may influence their susceptibility to depression during treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if HCV-infected men with baseline comorbidities are more or less prone to depression before and during treatment.
- To assess the impact of comorbidities on depression onset in male HCV patients undergoing interferon therapy.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 37 patients with chronic HCV infection preparing for treatment was studied.
- Baseline comorbidities were identified through pretreatment medication regimens.
- Depression levels were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory at multiple time points during 12 weeks of interferon therapy.
Main Results:
- Comorbidities did not correlate with depression at baseline in HCV patients.
- However, during interferon treatment, men with baseline comorbidities showed a significantly higher risk of developing de novo depression (OR = 19.25, p = .008).
- This increased risk of depression was not observed in women, and comorbidities did not affect treatment discontinuation or sustained viral response.
Conclusions:
- Baseline comorbidities increase the susceptibility of men to interferon treatment-induced depression in HCV infection.
- This finding highlights the importance of monitoring men with comorbidities for depression during HCV treatment.
- Further research may be needed to explore gender-specific responses to HCV treatment regarding mental health.
Background:
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with clinical depression,a condition that is aggravated on interferon-based therapy. In HCV infection, men often appear more resilient to depression than women. However, men are subject to depression in diseases that tend to be comorbid in HCV-infected.
Aim:
This study examined whether HCV-infected men with baseline comorbidities were more or less susceptible to depression prior to and on treatment.
Methods:
Patients with chronic HCV infection preparing to begin treatment participated (n = 37). The presence of baseline comorbidities was determined by pretreatment medication regimes. Depression was measured by the Beck Depression Inventory prior to and following 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks of interferon therapy.
Results:
At baseline, cohorts with (n = 16) and without (n = 21) comorbidities had equivocal demographics and infection characteristics. Comorbidities did not associate with baseline depression. However, on treatment, men with baseline comorbidities demonstrated an elevated risk for the onset of de novo depression (odds ratio = 19.25; confidence interval = 1.41, 582.14; p = .008). This was not observed for women. Baseline comorbidities did not alter the need for treatment discontinuations or the ability to achieve a sustained viral response.
Conclusion:
The results of this study suggest that baseline comorbidities render men more susceptible to interferon treatment-induced depression.
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