Baseline Comorbidities Enhance the Risk of Treatment-Induced Depression in HCV-Infected Men: A Pilot Study.
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.


OBJECTIVE
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.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study suggest that baseline comorbidities render men more susceptible to interferon treatment-induced depression.
Section 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.
Julia D
JD
Rempel
Section of Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Department of Immunology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Carla
C
Krueger
Section of Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Gerald Y
GY
Minuk
Section of Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Stephen G M
SG
Wong
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008350:Manitoba; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D012306:Risk
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007372:Interferons
HCV; comorbidities; depression; male