Acta clinica Croatica, Vol. 60. No. 4., 2021.
Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.20471/acc.2021.60.04.03
Depression, Anxiety and Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Vojvodina
Dragana Kačavenda-Babović
Predrag Đurić
Radomir Babović
Milotka Fabri
Maja Ružić
Vojislava Bugarski Ignjatović
Abstract
The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of depression and
anxiety among patients with chronic hepatitis C and how depression and anxiety correlate with respective
health-related quality of life (HRQoL) domains, sociodemographic factors, and clinico-epidemiological
characteristics. This prospective study involved 150 patients with chronic hepatitis C
awaiting interferon treatment for hepatitis C and 150 healthy subjects. All individuals enrolled in the
study completed the Short Form 36 (SF-36) questionnaire and Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale.
The symptoms showed greater severity/score among patients with chronic hepatitis C for both depression
(t=3.37; p<0.01) and anxiety (t=2.35; p<0.05). Regression analysis was used for estimating the
relationship between depression and the set of predictors (domains of the SF-36 questionnaire). Three
HRQoL domains (Physical Functioning, Vitality, and Mental Health) were found to have the strongest
predictive contribution to the occurrence of depression. A series of Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-
Whitney tests showed a significant difference in depression level between marital status categories
(χ2(2)=7.86, p<0.05). Divorced participants had significantly higher scores compared to married participants
(Z=-2.40, p<0.05) and single participants (Z=-2.75, p<0.01). Unemployment was associated
with a higher degree of depression and anxiety. There was no association identified between duration
of the disease, route of hepatitis C virus transmission, existence of cirrhosis, and depression or anxiety.
The findings of this study can assist in developing a standard protocol for the management of chronic
hepatitis C that will include psychological assessment and support.
Keywords
Chronic hepatitis C; Quality of life; Depression; Anxiety; Socioeconomic factors
Hrčak ID:
275429
URI
Publication date:
1.12.2021.
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