Theme: Epidemiology & Public Health Research Year: 2022
Background:
We have shown the cost-effectiveness of hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection screening in psychiatric
inpatients independently of current drug use. However, we lack knowledge on mental disorders
possibly triggering risk behavior for hepatitis C infection. This study evaluates whether specific
mental disorders are associated with hepatitis C prevalence in the SAMMSU cohort in order to
provide Swiss guidance.
Methods:
We analyzed data from 825 patients on opioid substitution treatment followed between 2014 to
2019 in the SAMMSU cohort. Follow-up consisted of annual visits for drug use, mental disorders
(ICD-10 /F10-19) and HCV antibody screening among other health conditions. Disease-10 Risk ratios
and stratification analyses were calculated using HCV prevalence and mental disorders (MD).
Patients were followed longitudinally to evaluate the risks of drug use, HCV antibody prevalence, MD
categories and risk ratios (RR) were calculated using patients with drug use only as reference group.
Results:
At least one additional MD was recorded in 72% of the 825 SAMMSU participants. Mood disorder
was found in 45% with a RR = 0.90 [95%-CI: 0.75 – 1.09], personality and behavior disorder in 30%
with a RR = 1.31 [95%-CI: 0.95 – 1.83] and 17% schizophrenia or delusional disorders, with a RR=0.69
[95%-CI: 0.53 – 0.92] for positive HCV antibodies, respectively. HCV prevalence was 75.97% in the
reference group and 70.82% among patients with ≥ 2 MD.
In addition to history of opioid use disorder, 34% of patients reported use of benzodiazepines
(RR=1.40 [95%-CI: 1.04 – 1.87]), 54% of cannabis and derivatives (RR=1.28 [95%-CI: 1.04 – 1.57]) and
46% of cocaine (RR=1.29 [95%-CI: 1.02 – 1.62]).
Conclusion:
Schizophrenia and delusional disorders were negatively associated with HCV, whereas personality
and behavior disorders were positively associated with HCV prevalence among patients followed at
the SAMMSU cohort.
Disclosure of Interest Statement:
Nothing to disclose.