The Association between Modifiable Lifestyle Behaviors and Depression among Asian Americans with Chronic Hepatitis B by Medication Status.

Lin Zhu,Winterlyn Gamoso,Wenyue Lu,Grace X Ma,Cicely Johnson,Yin Tan

doi:10.3390/brainsci12020188

Lin Zhu, Winterlyn Gamoso + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12020188

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Abstract

Asian Americans are disproportionately affected by chronic hepatitis B (CHB), with incidence and mortality rates well above those experienced by non-Hispanic white populations. The goal of this study was to examine the association between depression and modifiable lifestyle behaviors among Asian Americans with CHB, with a comparison between those on hepatitis medication and those not on medication. In total, 313 Asian Americans with CHB were recruited through outpatient clinics and community-based organizations to participate in an in-person baseline assessment. We collected data on participants’ sociodemographic characteristics, health-related behaviors, depression symptoms, and modifiable lifestyle behaviors. Bivariate analyses (two sample t-test and chi-square test of independence) and multivariable logistic regression were conducted. We found a high prevalence of depression among individuals living with CHB (41.81% among those not on antiviral medication and 39.71% among those on medication). Multivariate logistic regression results showed that Chinese ethnicity (vs. Vietnamese) and lack of physical activity were significantly associated with a higher risk of mild/severe depression, regardless of medication status. However, the protective effect of physical activity was strong for those on antiviral medication. Furthermore, being employed was significantly associated with a lower risk for depression among Asian Americans on medication, while younger age and being currently married were significantly associated with lower risk of depression among those not on medication. Our findings highlight the significance of physical activity among Asian Americans with CHB, especially for those on antiviral medication. Future prospective research efforts are needed to better identify the potential behavioral mechanisms of depression and provide insights for the psychopharmacological management in this vulnerable population.

Highlights

We examined modifiable lifestyle behaviors, depression, and chronic hepatitis B (CHB) history among study participants according to antiviral medication status (Table 2)
We examined associations between depression and sociodemographic characteristics and modifiable lifestyle behaviors among CHB patients on medication and CHB patients not on medication
Previous studies have suggested that Asian Americans with viral hepatitis were more likely than their counterparts of other racial/ethnic groups to experience depression [27]

Summary

Introduction

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver malignancy, occurring most often in people with chronic liver diseases, such as cirrhosis caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection [1]. 78% of HCC is attributable to HBV (53%) or HCV (25%) [2]. In the United States, Asian Americans are disproportionately affected by liver and intrahepatic bile duct cancer [3]. Asian American men have an 80% higher incidence rate of liver cancer compared to non-Hispanic white men (19.9 vs 10.8 per 100,000), while Asian American women have twice the incidence rate compared to non-Hispanic white women (7.4 vs 3.7 per 100,000) [3].

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