DUAL BURDEN: HCV ANTIBODY POSITIVITY AND DEPRESSION DIAGNOSIS IN UNITED STATES ADULTS

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and depression are significant public health concerns, with previous studies suggesting a complex relationship between the two conditions. This study aimed to investigate the association between HCV infection and depression among U.S. adults using a nationally representative sample. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2015-2020. The study included 8,443 participants aged 18 years and above who completed the depression screening questionnaire and underwent HCV testing. Depression was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and HCV infection was determined by the presence of HCV RNA. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the association between HCV infection and depression while adjusting for potential confounders. Results: In the bivariate analysis, HCV-positive individuals had a significantly higher prevalence of depression compared to HCV-negative individuals. However, after adjusting for potential confounders in the multivariable analysis, the association between HCV status and depression was no longer statistically significant. Age, marital status, and smoking status emerged as significant predictors of depression in the adjusted model. Conclusion: This study found a significant association between HCV infection and depression in the bivariate analysis, but this relationship was attenuated after adjusting for potential confounders. The findings highlight the importance of considering multiple risk factors when assessing the mental health of individuals with HCV infection and underscore the need for targeted interventions to prevent and treat depression in high-risk groups.