Prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in patients with chronic mental disorders: The relevance of dual disorders

• Published in: Gastroenterología y Hepatología (English Edition) 2023-03, Vol.46 (3), p.171-177
• Main Authors: Roncero, Carlos, Buch-Vicente, Bárbara, Martín-Sánchez, Ángel Manuel, Álvarez-Navares, Ana Isabel, Andrés-Olivera, Pilar, Gamonal-Limcaoco, Sinta, Lozano-López, María Teresa, Aguilar, Lourdes, Sánchez-Casado, Felisa, García-Ullán, Llanyra
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Diagnóstico dual; Dual diagnosis; Dual disorders; Esquizofrenia; Hepatitis C; Mental disorders; Patología dual; Schizophrenia; Trastornos mentales
• ISSN: 2444-3824; 2444-3824
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gastre.2022.06.005

The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is higher in people with psychiatric disorders compared to the general population. In addition, patients with severe mental illness are frequently affected by substance abuse, which increases the risk of blood-borne viral infections. Epidemiological studies in samples of hospitalised individuals with chronic mental disorders and dual diagnosis (DD) are lacking. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of HCV infection in a sample of in-patients with severe mental illness. This was a retrospective observational study. All patients meeting selection criteria admitted to the Medium-Term Psychiatric Unit of the University of Salamanca Health Care Complex between 2007 and 2018 were included. The primary endpoint was the prevalence of HCV infection. The secondary endpoint comprised the characteristics influencing the occurrence of HCV infection in these patients. A total of 497 admissions were included and patients’ last admission data were considered for analyses (n=345). The overall prevalence of HCV infection was 3.8% and reached 14.3% among DD patients, who showed a higher prevalence than those without this condition (14.3% versus 3.1%, p=0.009). HCV RNA was detected in 6 individuals at diagnosis who received DAA treatment reaching sustained virological response. The prevalence of HCV infection in our sample was higher than in the general population, especially among DD patients. Despite the multiple barriers to access healthcare by patients with chronic mental illness, efforts to include this population in screening and treatment are mandatory. La prevalencia de la infección por el virus de la hepatitis C (VHC) es mayor en las personas con trastornos psiquiátricos que en la población general. Además, los pacientes con enfermedades mentales graves padecen con frecuencia abuso de sustancias, que aumenta el riesgo de infecciones virales transmitidas por la sangre. El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar la prevalencia de la infección por el VHC en una muestra de pacientes hospitalizados con trastornos psiquiátricos graves. Se trata de un estudio observacional retrospectivo. Se incluyeron todos los pacientes que cumplían los criterios de selección ingresados en la Unidad de Convalecencia del Servicio de Psiquiatría del Complejo Asistencial Universitario de Salamanca entre 2007 y 2018. El criterio de evaluación principal fue la prevalencia de la infección por VHC. El criterio de evaluaci