Hepatitis C virus eradication improves immediate and delayed episodic memory in patients treated with interferon and ribavirin.

BACKGROUND: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with impairment of cognitive function and mood disorders. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of sustained virological response (SVR) on cognitive function and mood disorders. METHOD: A prospective exploratory one arm study was conducted. Adult clinically compensated HVC patients were consecutively recruited before treatment with interferon and ribavirin for 24 to 48 weeks, according to HCV genotype. Clinical, neurocognitive and mood assessments using the PRIME-MD and BDI instruments were performed at baseline, right after half of the expected treatment has been reached and 6 months after the end of antiviral treatment. Exclusion criteria were the use of illicit psychotropic substances, mental confusion, hepatic encephalopathy, hepatocellular carcinoma, severe anemia, untreated hypothyroidism, Addison syndrome and major depression before treatment. RESULTS: Thirty six patients were enrolled and 21 completed HCV treatment (n = 16 with SVR and n = 5 without). Regardless of the viral clearance at the end of treatment, there was a significant improvement in the immediate verbal episodic memory (p = 0.010), delayed verbal episodic memory (p = 0.007), selective attention (p < 0.001) and phonemic fluency (p = 0.043). Patients with SVR displayed significant improvement in immediate (p = 0.045) and delayed verbal episodic memory (p = 0.040) compared to baseline. The baseline frequency of depression was 9.5%, which rose to 52.4% during treatment, and returned to 9.5% 6 months after the end of treatment, without significant difference between patients with and without SVR. Depressive symptoms were observed in 19.1% before treatment, 62% during (p = 0.016) and 28.6% 6 months after the end of treatment (p = 0.719). CONCLUSIONS: Eradication of HCV infection improved cognitive performance but did not affect the frequency of depressive symptoms at least in the short range.

ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION IN METABOLIC DYSFUNCTION-ASSOCIATED STEATOTIC LIVER DISEASE (MASLD).

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the frequency and intensity of anxious and depressive symptoms in patients diagnosed with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). METHODS: This is a descriptive and cross-sectional study, resulting from 106 patients from the Hepatology outpatient clinic at the Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HC-FMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil without a history of alcohol abuse, verified by the alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT). These were assessed using the sociodemographic data sheet, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D). RESULTS: A total of 69.8% were women and 30.2% were men, with a mean age of 61 years. The majority (71.7%) discovered MASLD through routine exams, presenting as comorbidities: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (59.4%), Dyslipidemia (49.1%), Arterial hypertension (68.9%), Obesity (61.3%) and Metabolic syndrome [MetS (63.2%)]. The HADS scale indicates 34% probability of anxiety and 33% depressive symptoms. The Hamilton's scales of intensity indicates 63.9% severe anxiety and 54.3% severe depression. There is also a relationship between anxiety, depression and the female gender, as well as between depression and MetS. CONCLUSION: The findings point to the presence of anxiety and depression in more than one third of MASLD patients, most with severe symptoms. The group is concentrated in the elderly, with many comorbidities, including MetS. There was a positive correlation between anxiety, depression and being female; also, being significant between MetS and depression.

Associação entre ansiedade e depressão na Doença hepática esteatótica associada à disfunção metabólica (MASLD) / Association between anxiety and depression in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (masld)

ABSTRACT Background: This study aimed to assess the frequency and intensity of anxious and depressive symptoms in patients diagnosed with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Methods: This is a descriptive and cross-sectional study, resulting from 106 patients from the Hepatology outpatient clinic at the Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HC-FMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil without a history of alcohol abuse, verified by the alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT). These were assessed using the sociodemographic data sheet, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D). Results: A total of 69.8% were women and 30.2% were men, with a mean age of 61 years. The majority (71.7%) discovered MASLD through routine exams, presenting as comorbidities: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (59.4%), Dyslipidemia (49.1%), Arterial hypertension (68.9%), Obesity (61.3%) and Metabolic syndrome [MetS (63.2%)]. The HADS scale indicates 34% probability of anxiety and 33% depressive symptoms. The Hamilton's scales of intensity indicates 63.9% severe anxiety and 54.3% severe depression. There is also a relationship between anxiety, depression and the female gender, as well as between depression and MetS. Conclusion: The findings point to the presence of anxiety and depression in more than one third of MASLD patients, most with severe symptoms. The group is concentrated in the elderly, with many comorbidities, including MetS. There was a positive correlation between anxiety, depression and being female; also, being significant between MetS and depression.

RESUMO Contexto: Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a frequência e a intensidade dos sintomas ansiosos e depressivos em pacientes com diagnóstico de doença hepática esteatótica associada à disfunção metabólica [do inglês: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)]. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo descritivo e transversal, resultante do acompanhamento de 106 pacientes do Ambulatório de Doença Hepática Esteatótica Associada à Disfunção Metabólica (A2MG700) da Disciplina de Gastroenterologia Clínica do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HC-FMUSP), São Paulo, Brasil, sem história de abuso de álcool, verificada pelo Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Foram avaliados os dados sociodemográficos, Escala hospitalar de ansiedade e depressão [do inglês: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)], Escala de avaliação de ansiedade de Hamilton [do inglês: Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A)] e Escala de depressão de Hamilton [do inglês: Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D)]. Resultados: Um total 69,8% dos indivíduos eram do sexo feminino com idade média de 61 anos. A maioria dos indivíduos avaliados (71,7%) descobriu a doença por meio de exames de rotina e apresentavam diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (59,4%), dislipidemia (49,1%), hipertensão arterial (68,9%), obesidade (61,3%) e síndrome metabólica [SM (63,2%)]. A análise da escala HADS demonstrou probabilidade de ansiedade em 34% dos participantes e 33% de sintomas depressivos. A escala de intensidade de Hamilton demonstrou que 63,9% dos indivíduos apresentavam ansiedade severa e 54,3% depressão severa. Observamos também relação entre ansiedade, depressão e o sexo feminino, assim como, entre depressão e SM. Conclusão: Nossos achados demonstram a presença de ansiedade e depressão em mais de 1/3 dos indivíduos com MASLD avaliados e a maioria apresenta sintomas graves. O grupo era composto por pacientes idosos e com comorbidades, incluindo SM. Observamos correlação positiva entre ansiedade, depressão e sexo feminino, sendo significativa entre SM e depressão.