Long-term risk of depression and the impact of risk factors among chronic hepatitis C patients after successful antiviral therapy: A nationwide real-world Taiwanese cohort (T-COACH).
Journal
Journal of the Formosan Medical Association = Taiwan yi zhi
ISSN
0929-6646
Date Issued
2025-06-09
Author(s)
Hu, Ping-Jen
Yu, Ming-Lung
Chen, Ming-Yao
Chen, Chi-Yi
Kuo, Hsing-Tao
Hung, Chao-Hung
Tseng, Kuo-Chih
Lai, Hsueh-Chou
Peng, Cheng-Yuan
Wang, Jing-Houng
Chen, Jyh-Jou
Lee, Pei-Lun
Chien, Rong-Nan
Yang, Chi-Chieh
Lo, Gin-Ho
Liu, Chen-Hua
Yan, Sheng-Lei
Lin, Chun-Yen
Su, Wei-Wen
Chu, Cheng-Hsin
Chen, Chih-Jen
Tung, Shui-Yi
Tai, Chi-Ming
Lin, Chih-Wen
Lo, Ching-Chu
Cheng, Pin-Nan
Chiu, Yen-Cheng
Wang, Chia-Chi
Cheng, Jin-Shiung
Tsai, Wei-Lun
Lin, Han-Chieh
Huang, Yi-Hsiang
Yeh, Ming-Lun
Huang, Chung-Feng
Huang, Jee-Fu
Dai, Chia-Yen
Chung, Wan-Long
Tsai, Pei-Chien
Bair, Ming-Jong
Abstract
Background: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with an increased risk of neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression. However, the impact of interferon (IFN)-based therapy, after achieving a sustained virologic response (SVR), on the long-term risk of depressive disorders remains unclear. Thus, we evaluated the incidence of new-onset depression and the impact of risk factors on patients with chronic hepatitis C following antiviral therapy.
Methods: This nationwide, real-world cohort included a total of 5550 patients with HCV infection who received IFN-based therapy between 2003 and 2014. The primary outcome was the incidence of new-onset depressive disorder. The cumulative incidence of depressive disorders was analyzed using Gray's competing risk method, and Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify independent risk factors.
Results: During a mean follow-up of 4.07 years, the incidence of new-onset depression was 18.0 % in patients with SVR and 16.7 % in patients with non-SVR. Achieving SVR did not significantly reduce the risk of depression across the various subgroups. Multivariate analysis identified older age (≥45 years, HR = 1.32, 95 % CI: 1.10-1.57, P = 0.003) and female sex (HR = 1.29, 95 % CI: 1.11-1.49, P = 0.0007) as independent risk factors for depression, but only in patients with SVR.
Conclusions: Our findings highlight the need for long-term psychiatric monitoring in patients with HCV infection after treatment, particularly in high-risk subgroups. Further studies involving direct-acting antiviral-treated cohorts with extended follow-up periods are required to validate these findings.
Subjects
Chronic hepatitis C
Depression
Interferon
Risk factors
Sustained virologic response
SDGs
Type
journal article