Objective:

To assess the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among psychiatric inpatients in Poland and identify associated risk factors.

Approach:

• Study Design: A cross-sectional survey conducted from 2021 to 2023 in psychiatric wards across Poland.
• Participants: Adults recently hospitalized with at least one current mental health condition were tested for anti HCV antibodies.
• Testing: 12,897 individuals were tested, and those with confirmed active HCV infection were offered treatment.

Key Findings:

• 226 patients (1.8% of the total sample) tested positive for HCV antibodies.
• 172 participants (1.3% of the total sample) had active HCV infection.
• Five significant risk factors for HCV infection were identified: intravenous drug use (OR = 9.40; 95% CI: 6.12–14.44; p<0.001), diagnosed liver disease (OR = 6.17; 95% CI: 4.10–9.26; p<0.001), blood transfusions prior to 1992 (OR = 2.61; 95% CI: 1.29–5.28; p=0.008), substance abuse disorders (OR = 1.97; 95% CI: 1.34–2.91; p=0.001), and previous incarceration (OR = 1.62; 95% CI: 1.08–2.43; p=0.018).

Interpretation:

The study highlights a high prevalence of HCV infection among psychiatric patients, particularly those with a history of intravenous drug use.

Limitations:

• The study may not represent all psychiatric inpatients in Poland due to its cross-sectional design.
• Potential underreporting of risk factors due to stigma or lack of awareness among patients.

Conclusion:

The findings suggest the necessity of routine HCV screening in psychiatric settings to address the high prevalence of infection in this vulnerable population.