Universal blood-borne virus screening in patients with severe mental illness managed in an outpatient clozapine clinic: uptake and prevalence

Sexually transmitted infections, sexual life and risk behaviours of people living with schizophrenia: systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), along with sexual health and behaviour, have received little attention in schizophrenia patients.

AIMS

To systematically review and meta-analytically characterise the prevalence of STIs and sexual risk behaviours among schizophrenia patients.

METHOD

Web of Science, PubMed, BIOSIS, KCI-Korean Journal Database, MEDLINE, Russian Science Citation Index, SciELO and Cochrane Central Register were systematically searched from inception to 6 July 2023. Studies reporting on the prevalence or odds ratio of any STI or any outcome related to sexual risk behaviours among schizophrenia samples were included. PRISMA/MOOSE-compliant (CRD42023443602) random-effects meta-analyses were used for the selected outcomes. Q-statistics, I2 index, sensitivity analyses and meta-regressions were used. Study quality and publication bias were assessed.

RESULTS

Forty-eight studies (N = 2 459 456) reporting on STI prevalence (including 15 allowing for calculation of an odds ratio) and 33 studies (N = 4255) reporting on sexual risk behaviours were included. Schizophrenia samples showed a high prevalence of STIs and higher risks of HIV (odds ratio = 2.11; 95% CI 1.23-3.63), hepatitis C virus (HCV, odds ratio = 4.54; 95% CI 2.15-961) and hepatitis B virus (HBV; odds ratio = 2.42; 95% CI 1.95-3.01) infections than healthy controls. HIV prevalence was higher in Africa compared with other continents and in in-patient (rather than out-patient) settings. Finally, 37.7% (95% CI 31.5-44.4%) of patients were sexually active; 35.0% (95% CI 6.6-59.3%) reported consistent condom use, and 55.3% (95% CI 25.0-82.4%) maintained unprotected sexual relationships.

CONCLUSIONS

Schizophrenia patients have high prevalence of STIs, with several-fold increased risks of HIV, HBV and HCV infection compared with the general population. Sexual health must be considered as an integral component of care.

Hepatitis C virus in people with serious mental illness: An analysis of the care cascade at a tertiary health service with a pilot 'identify and treat' strategy

BACKGROUND

People with serious mental illness (SMI) are underserved from a hepatitis C Virus (HCV) screening and treatment perspective.

AIMS

To examine the HCV care cascade in people with SMI and to pilot a supported HCV treatment integration program.

METHODS

HCV prevalence was retrospectively analysed from 4,492 consecutive individuals admitted to a tertiary hospital mental health service between January 2017 and December 2018. Sub-cohort analysis of screening patterns and predictors of seropositive infection was performed. Referral pathways and community care integration were analysed for HCV positive individuals, and a prospective community-based 'identify and treat' HCV program was assessed.

RESULTS

Screening for HCV had been performed in 18.6% (835/4,492) of the cohort. Seroprevalence was 4.6% (207/4,492). HCV seropositivity was associated with age > 40-years (OR = 9.30, CI 3.69-23.45, p <0.01), injecting drug use (IDU) (OR = 24.26, CI 8.99-65.43, p <0.01), and previous incarceration (OR = 12.26, 4.51-33.31, p <0.01). In a cohort of treatment-eligible individuals, 43.3% (90/208) had neither been referred to specialist services or general practitioners for HCV management. Amongst those referred to specialist services, 64.7% (57/88) did not attend scheduled follow-up, and 48.3% (15/31) of attendees were lost to follow-up. Through an intensified community access program, 10 people were successfully treated for HCV, though 22 could not be engaged.

CONCLUSION

People with SMI are underserved by traditional models of HCV healthcare. Intensified community-based support can partially bolster the treatment cascade, though investment in innovative screening and management strategies are required to achieve healthcare parity. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.