ArticleBMC public health2025
Association between viral hepatitis and depressive symptoms: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2018.
Article in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- [The Influence of Hepatitis B Virus on Sex Hormone Levels and Quality of Life in Female Hepatitis B Patients With Different Alanine Aminotransferase States].Sichuan da xue xue bao. Yi xue ban = Journal of Sichuan University. Medical science edition · 2026Article
- Long-term psychological and functional outcomes after hepatitis C eradication with direct-acting antivirals: an 80-month follow-up study.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2026Article
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
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No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundEvidence on the association between viral hepatitis, particularly hepatitis B and C, and depressive symptoms remains limited. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate this relationship.
methodsWe analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2007 and 2018. HBV or HCV infections were identified through serological testing, and depressive symptoms were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Weighted multivariable logistic regression models were used, with additional subgroup and interaction analyses. Additionally, viral hepatitis was categorized as never infected, previously infected, or actively infected to compare risks by infection status.
resultsAmong 25,635 participants, 456 had HBV or HCV infection. Compared with uninfected individuals, those with viral hepatitis had higher odds of depressive symptoms (OR = 1.72, 95% CI: 1.22-2.43). When depressive symptoms were categorized by severity, viral hepatitis was associated with mild (OR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.01-2.10), moderate (OR = 1.96, 95% CI: 1.25-3.09), and severe depression (OR = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.08-2.81). Viral hepatitis was also associated with higher PHQ-9 scores (β = 1.06, 95% CI 0.36-1.77). No significant effect modification was detected across age, sex, race/ethnicity, education level, marital status, poverty-income ratio, body mass index, smoking status or alcohol use (all p for interaction > 0.05). When infection status was further stratified, only active infection was significantly associated with depressive symptoms (OR = 1.67, 95% CI: 1.19-2.33).
conclusionsViral hepatitis was independently associated with depressive symptoms, and this relationship was driven primarily by active infection. As causality cannot be inferred from cross-sectional data, longitudinal studies are warranted.
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