Author/Authors :
Imani ، Mousa Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Sharafi ، Heidar Middle East Liver Diseases Center , Sadeh ، Akram Baqiyatallah Research Center for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases - Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences , Kakavand-Ghalehnoei ، Rezvan Department of Virology - Faculty of Medical Sciences - Tarbiat Modares University , Alavian ، Moayed Middle East Liver Diseases Center , Fotouhi ، Akbar Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences
Abstract :
Background: High-risk behaviors in people with severe mental illnesses, such drug injection by shared equipment and unprotected sex, expose them to the risk of blood-borne infections such as hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of HBV and HCV serum markers in people with severe mental illnesses in Tehran, Iran. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, people with mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression, were studied. The participants were recruited using a non-random convenience sampling method from Roozbeh and Razi hospitals in Tehran between December 2019 and March 2020. Blood samples were evaluated for HCV-Ab, HBs Ag, HBs Ab, and HBc Ab using an enzyme immunoassay technique. Results: A total of 257 participants were recruited for this study; their mean age was 35.77 years, and 70.0% of whom were male. Bipolar disorder (40.5%) and schizophrenia (35.8%) were the most frequent severe mental disorders in the participants. The prevalence of HBV and HCV seromarkers was as follows: HBs Ag: 0.3% (95% CI: 0.0 - 2.0%), HBc Ab: 7.3% (95% CI: 4.6 - 11.3%), HBs Ab: 18.7% (95% CI: 14.1 - 24.0%), and HCV Ab: 3.1% (95% CI: 1.3 - 6.9%). In logistic regression analysis, tattooing (OR = 4.94, 95% CI: 1.73 - 14.13) and age (OR= 1.06, 95% CI: 1.01 - 1.11) were associated with HBV infection (HBc Ab positivity), and only tattooing (OR= 6.33, 95% CI: 1.19 - 33.80) was significantly associated with exposure to HCV. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that the prevalence of HBsAg positivity in people with severe mental illness was not higher than that in the general population of Iran; however, HCV Ab positivity was more prevalent in people with severe mental illness than in the general population of Iran. Preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic interventions for HCV infection are needed in this population in Iran.
Keywords :
Hepatitis B , Hepatitis C , Mental Disorders , Epidemiology
