Anna Hollander1, Graham R Foster, Ola Weiland. 1. Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet at Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and mode of acquisition, treatment discontinuations, drop in haemoglobin levels and treatment outcome in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Consecutive unselected Swedish patients with CHC completed the SF-36 questionnaire before, during and after treatment with interferon and ribavirin. Results. At baseline, HRQOL was reduced in all SF-36 subscales in our patients (n=147) as compared with the general Swedish population. Former intravenous drug users (IVDUs) scored significantly lower in social function (p=0.03) and mental health (p=0.03) than patients who had acquired their infection from blood transfusions (PTH). A decline of >40 points in HRQOL from baseline to week 12 was noticed in the role limitations-physical (RP) score for the IVDU and PTH groups (p<0.0001 and 0.001, respectively). Patients with a >or=20% fall in haemoglobin levels at treatment week 12 had a significantly poorer RP (p=0.006) and role limitations-emotional score (p<0.02) than patients with a <10% fall. Early treatment dropouts had significantly lower HRQOL scores at baseline than adherent patients. At follow-up, sustained viral responders had significantly higher scores than non-responders. CONCLUSIONS: Swedish outpatients with CHC have a marked reduction in their HRQOL as compared to the general population. Therapy reduces HRQOL most substantially in those with a marked reduction in haemoglobin. Early dropouts from therapy have significantly lower HRQOL scores at baseline than adherent patients, and sustained viral responders improve their HRQOL significantly more than non-responders.
OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and mode of acquisition, treatment discontinuations, drop in haemoglobin levels and treatment outcome in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Consecutive unselected Swedish patients with CHC completed the SF-36 questionnaire before, during and after treatment with interferon and ribavirin. Results. At baseline, HRQOL was reduced in all SF-36 subscales in our patients (n=147) as compared with the general Swedish population. Former intravenous drug users (IVDUs) scored significantly lower in social function (p=0.03) and mental health (p=0.03) than patients who had acquired their infection from blood transfusions (PTH). A decline of >40 points in HRQOL from baseline to week 12 was noticed in the role limitations-physical (RP) score for the IVDU and PTH groups (p<0.0001 and 0.001, respectively). Patients with a >or=20% fall in haemoglobin levels at treatment week 12 had a significantly poorer RP (p=0.006) and role limitations-emotional score (p<0.02) than patients with a <10% fall. Early treatment dropouts had significantly lower HRQOL scores at baseline than adherent patients. At follow-up, sustained viral responders had significantly higher scores than non-responders. CONCLUSIONS: Swedish outpatients with CHC have a marked reduction in their HRQOL as compared to the general population. Therapy reduces HRQOL most substantially in those with a marked reduction in haemoglobin. Early dropouts from therapy have significantly lower HRQOL scores at baseline than adherent patients, and sustained viral responders improve their HRQOL significantly more than non-responders.
Authors: Roger T Anderson; Robert W Baran; Birgitta Dietz; Eric Kallwitz; Pennifer Erickson; Dennis A Revicki Journal: Qual Life Res Date: 2013-09-05 Impact factor: 4.147
Authors: K K Snow; H L Bonkovsky; R J Fontana; H-Y Kim; R K Sterling; A M Di Bisceglie; T R Morgan; J L Dienstag; M G Ghany Journal: Aliment Pharmacol Ther Date: 2010-01-12 Impact factor: 8.171