Association between resolved hepatitis B virus infection and depression in American adults : a cross-sectional study

Abstract Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a global health concern, and it can potentially affect mental health like depression. Resolved HBV infection, often perceived as a milder form of HBV infection, are often overlooked, and the association between it and depression remains unclear. This stu...

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Main Authors: Zihan Qin, Yizhuo Liu, Yifei Liu, Anqi Yang, Ruoyi Zhang, Kun Zhang, Shutian Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-99864-2
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author Zihan Qin
Yizhuo Liu
Yifei Liu
Anqi Yang
Ruoyi Zhang
Kun Zhang
Shutian Zhang
author_facet Zihan Qin
Yizhuo Liu
Yifei Liu
Anqi Yang
Ruoyi Zhang
Kun Zhang
Shutian Zhang
author_sort Zihan Qin
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a global health concern, and it can potentially affect mental health like depression. Resolved HBV infection, often perceived as a milder form of HBV infection, are often overlooked, and the association between it and depression remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the association between resolved HBV infection and depression. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 2005 to 2018, including 20,655 adult Americans. Resolved HBV infection was defined as HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) negative and HBV core antibody (HBcAb) positive. Depression was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) score. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to balance baseline characteristics. Algorithms such as inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) were also applied. Among the participants, 1,551 (7.5%) were reported to have resolved HBV infection. Depression was reported by 1,796 participants (8.7%), with a higher prevalence among those with resolved HBV infection (10.6%) compared to those without HBV infection(8.5%). PSM and IPTW revealed a significantly positive association between resolved HBV infection and depression (PSM: OR = 1.40, 95%CI 1.09–1.79, p = 0.008; IPTW: OR = 1.48, 95%CI 1.26–1.74, p < 0.001). Subgroup and sensitivity analyses supported the robustness of the findings. The results suggest a complex relationship between resolved chronic viral infections and mental health. Based on this finding, it is advisable to conduct psychological monitoring and offer support to individuals who have achieved a functional cure for HBV. Further prospective studies are still needed to reveal the potential mechanism.
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spelling doaj-art-750dd6ee82bb48c99ebc4a20e8a8a3a72025-08-20T03:09:34ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-0115111010.1038/s41598-025-99864-2Association between resolved hepatitis B virus infection and depression in American adults : a cross-sectional studyZihan Qin0Yizhuo Liu1Yifei Liu2Anqi Yang3Ruoyi Zhang4Kun Zhang5Shutian Zhang6Hebei Medical UniversityHebei Medical UniversityHebei Medical UniversityDongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese MedicineHebei Medical UniversityHebei Medical UniversityDepartment of Gastroenterology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityAbstract Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a global health concern, and it can potentially affect mental health like depression. Resolved HBV infection, often perceived as a milder form of HBV infection, are often overlooked, and the association between it and depression remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the association between resolved HBV infection and depression. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 2005 to 2018, including 20,655 adult Americans. Resolved HBV infection was defined as HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) negative and HBV core antibody (HBcAb) positive. Depression was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) score. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to balance baseline characteristics. Algorithms such as inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) were also applied. Among the participants, 1,551 (7.5%) were reported to have resolved HBV infection. Depression was reported by 1,796 participants (8.7%), with a higher prevalence among those with resolved HBV infection (10.6%) compared to those without HBV infection(8.5%). PSM and IPTW revealed a significantly positive association between resolved HBV infection and depression (PSM: OR = 1.40, 95%CI 1.09–1.79, p = 0.008; IPTW: OR = 1.48, 95%CI 1.26–1.74, p < 0.001). Subgroup and sensitivity analyses supported the robustness of the findings. The results suggest a complex relationship between resolved chronic viral infections and mental health. Based on this finding, it is advisable to conduct psychological monitoring and offer support to individuals who have achieved a functional cure for HBV. Further prospective studies are still needed to reveal the potential mechanism.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-99864-2Resolved hepatitis B virus infectionDepressionAdultsNHANES
spellingShingle Zihan Qin
Yizhuo Liu
Yifei Liu
Anqi Yang
Ruoyi Zhang
Kun Zhang
Shutian Zhang
Association between resolved hepatitis B virus infection and depression in American adults : a cross-sectional study
Scientific Reports
Resolved hepatitis B virus infection
Depression
Adults
NHANES
title Association between resolved hepatitis B virus infection and depression in American adults : a cross-sectional study
title_full Association between resolved hepatitis B virus infection and depression in American adults : a cross-sectional study
title_fullStr Association between resolved hepatitis B virus infection and depression in American adults : a cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed Association between resolved hepatitis B virus infection and depression in American adults : a cross-sectional study
title_short Association between resolved hepatitis B virus infection and depression in American adults : a cross-sectional study
title_sort association between resolved hepatitis b virus infection and depression in american adults a cross sectional study
topic Resolved hepatitis B virus infection
Depression
Adults
NHANES
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-99864-2
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