Prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in patients with chronic mental disorders: The relevance of dual disorders / Prevalencia de la infección por el virus de la hepatitis C en pacientes con trastornos mentales crónicos: la relevancia de la patología dual

Objective: 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. Patients and methods: 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. Results: 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. Conclusions: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.(AU)

Objetivo: 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. Pacientes y métodos: 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 evaluación secundario abarcó las características que contribuyen a dicha infección en estos pacientes. Resultados: Se consideraron los datos del último ingreso de los pacientes incluidos (n=345). La prevalencia global de la infección por VHC fue del 3,8% y alcanzó el 14,3% entre los pacientes con patología dual, que mostraron una prevalencia mayor que aquellos sin esta condición (14,3 versus 3,1%, p=0,009). Se detectó ARN de VHC en 6 individuos en el momento del diagnóstico, que recibieron tratamiento DAA y alcanzaron una respuesta virológica sostenida. Conclusiones: La prevalencia de infección por VHC en nuestra muestra fue mayor que en la población general, especialmente entre los pacientes con patología dual. A pesar de las barreras que dificultan el acceso a la atención sanitaria de los pacientes con enfermedades mentales crónicas, es imprescindible incluirlos en el cribado y el tratamiento.(AU)

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

OBJECTIVE: 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. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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. CONCLUSIONS: 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.

Impact on Sleep Quality, Mood, Anxiety, and Personal Satisfaction of Doctors Assigned to COVID-19 Units.

The SARS-CoV-2 health emergency has led to a restructuring of health care systems and the reassignment of medical specialists from their usual duties to attend COVID-19 patients. The aim of this paper is to describe the levels of insomnia, anxiety, depression, and the impact on quality of life of doctors who were on the frontline of COVID-19 during the first two waves of the pandemic. Self-report surveys were conducted on said physicians during both waves, with 83 and 61 responses in the first and second waves, respectively. The reported presence of insomnia was frequent (71.8%), although it decreased in the second survey. Anxiety was moderate, decreasing from 57.1% to 43.1% between measurements. Overall, depression rates decreased between the two surveys. Substance use was found to have an indirect correlation with personal and professional satisfaction. In the light of the unforeseeable evolution of the pandemic and the medium- to long-term repercussions on professionals, we believe the adaptation of health resources is crucial to meet the new unpredictable mental health needs of this group.

Perceived stress in different countries at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: The coronavirus has spread around the world, causing an ongoing pandemic. After the lockdown and quarantine protocols, an evaluation of the population's current emotional state was made through a web-based survey available in both English and Spanish. The objective was to observe how respondents perceived stress and worry as a result of COVID-19. METHODS: The survey gathered data across three sections: socio-demographic data, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) by Cohen, and additional queries on current worries and behaviors due to this pandemic. RESULTS: The survey received 1523 respondents from 48 countries. The mean of the PSS-10 score was 17.4 (SD 6.5). Significantly higher scores were observed among women, young adults, students, and those who expressed concern about getting infected and considered themselves high-risk. No significant differences were observed between health professionals and other professions. CONCLUSIONS: We describe an increase in stress levels due to the COVID-19 and point out groups at high risk. These findings could help to address the mental health care that is needed.