Depression Severity and its Impact on Quality of Life of Hepatitis B & C patients under antiviral therapy

Background: Chronic hepatitis B and C affect millions globally, with Pakistan facing a significant burden. These conditions often lead to depression, exacerbating the decline in quality of life. Objective: To assess severity of depression in chronic hepatitis B and C patients and its effect on quality of life in Pakistani population. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Centre for Liver Diseases, Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi from 1st January to 30th June 2023. The inclusion criteria were chronic hepatitis B and C patients of both male and female gender, aged between 18-60 years, taking antiviral therapy. Total 90 patients fulfilling inclusion criteria were enrolled after informed consent. Demographic data was obtained by using a self-devised proforma. Depression was assessed by Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and QOL by WHOQOL-BREF. Data was analyzed in SPSS 25 using one-way ANOVA and Chi-square tests (p ? 0.05). Results: The sample comprised of 90 patients with chronic hepatitis, 31 (34.4%) with HBV and 59 (65.6%) with HCV; 43 men (47.8%) and 47 women (52.2%), with a mean age of 35.7 ± 5.8 years. Mean BDI (II) score was 29.7 ± 10.7. Mean WHOQOL-BREF was 74.74?±?17.32 and declined significantly with greater depression severity (p < 0.05). Hepatitis C patients reported higher depression rates and lower QOL than those with hepatitis B. Conclusion: In conclusion, depression is very common in chronic hepatitis patients and markedly reduces quality of life. Integrating mental-health screening and interventions into hepatology care is essential.