Risk of Depression in People With Human Immunodeficiency Virus: A Nationwide Population-based Matched Cohort Study

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Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is associated with depression. However, previous studies have not addressed familial factors. Methods: Nationwide, population-based, matched cohort study of people with HIV (PWH) in Denmark between 1995 and 2021 who were matched on sex and date of birth with a comparison cohort randomly selected from the Danish population. Family-related factors were examined by inclusion of siblings of those in the cohorts. We calculated hazard ratios (HRs) for depression, receipt of antidepressants, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), and suicide, as well as the yearly proportions of study cohorts with psychiatric hospital contact due to depression and receipt of antidepressants from 10 years before to 10 years after study inclusion. Results: We included 5943 PWH and 59 430 comparison cohort members. Median age was 38 years, and 25% were women. We observed an increased risk of depression, receipt of antidepressants, ECT, and suicide among PWH in the 2 first years of observation (HR, 3.3; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.5-4.4), HR, 3.0 (95% CI: 2.7-3.4), HR, 2.8 (95% CI:. 9-8.6), and HR, 10.7 (95% CI: 5.2-22.2), thereafter the risk subsided but remained increased. The proportions of PWH with psychiatric hospital contact due to depression and receipt of antidepressants were increased prior to and especially after HIV diagnosis. Risk of all outcomes was substantially lower among siblings of PWH than among PWH (HR for receipt of antidepressants, 1.1; 95% CI: 1.0-1.2). Conclusions: PWH have an increased risk of depression. Family-related factors are unlikely to explain this risk.

Original languageEnglish
JournalClinical Infectious Diseases
Volume77
Issue number11
Pages (from-to)1569-1577
Number of pages9
ISSN1058-4838
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved.

    Research areas

  • antidepressants, depression, PWH

ID: 393770467