Zobair M Younossi1,2, Maria Stepanova3, Eric J Lawitz4, K Rajender Reddy5, Vincent Wai-Sun Wong6, Alessandra Mangia7, Andrew J Muir8, Ira Jacobson9, C Stephen Djedjos10, Anuj Gaggar10, Robert P Myers10, Issah Younossi3, Fatema Nader3, Andrei Racila3. 1. Center for Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Inova Fairfax Hospital, Annandale, Virginia, USA. 2. Betty and Guy Beatty Center for Integrated Research, Inova Health System, Falls Church, Virginia, USA. 3. Center for Outcomes Research in Liver Disease, Washington, DC, USA. 4. Texas Liver Institute, University of Texas Health San Antonio, Texas, USA. 5. University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. 6. The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. 7. Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza Hospital, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy. 8. Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, North Carolina, USA. 9. NYU Medical Center, New York, New York, USA. 10. Gilead Sciences, Foster City, California, USA.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Although there is substantial evidence suggesting poor health-related quality of life (HRQL) in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC), similar data in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) have not been fully assessed. The aim is to compare HRQL scores in patients with CHC to those with NASH. METHODS: Matched patients with advanced fibrosis (bridging fibrosis and compensated cirrhosis) due to CHC and NASH completed Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire, Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ), and Work Productivity and Activity Instrument questionnaire. RESULTS: We included 1,338 patients with NASH with advanced fibrosis (mean age 57.2 years, 47% men, 55% cirrhosis) and 1,338 matched patients with CHC. Patients with CHC and NASH had similar rates of employment and psychiatric disorders (P > 0.05). As expected, patients with NASH had higher body mass index (mean 33.7 vs 27.6) and more type 2 diabetes (74% vs 16%) (all P < 0.01). Patients with NASH had significantly lower HRQL scores related to physical health: Physical Functioning, Bodily Pain, General Health, Vitality, Physical Summary of SF-36, and Fatigue of CLDQ (P < 0.02). By contrast, patients with CHC had a lower Mental Health score of SF-36 and Emotional score of CLDQ and reported greater impairment in daily activities as measured by the Work Productivity and Activity Instrument questionnaire (P < 0.002). In multivariate analysis, after adjustment for demographic parameters, cirrhosis, and history of psychiatric disorders, having NASH was associated with lower physical HRQL scores and higher mental health-related scores (P < 0.05). DISCUSSION: Patients with NASH and advanced fibrosis have more impairment of their physical health-related scores than patients with CHC with advanced fibrosis. These data should dispel the misconception that NASH is an asymptomatic disease with little negative impact on patients' well-being.
INTRODUCTION: Although there is substantial evidence suggesting poor health-related quality of life (HRQL) in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC), similar data in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) have not been fully assessed. The aim is to compare HRQL scores in patients with CHC to those with NASH. METHODS: Matched patients with advanced fibrosis (bridging fibrosis and compensated cirrhosis) due to CHC and NASH completed Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire, Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ), and Work Productivity and Activity Instrument questionnaire. RESULTS: We included 1,338 patients with NASH with advanced fibrosis (mean age 57.2 years, 47% men, 55% cirrhosis) and 1,338 matched patients with CHC. Patients with CHC and NASH had similar rates of employment and psychiatric disorders (P > 0.05). As expected, patients with NASH had higher body mass index (mean 33.7 vs 27.6) and more type 2 diabetes (74% vs 16%) (all P < 0.01). Patients with NASH had significantly lower HRQL scores related to physical health: Physical Functioning, Bodily Pain, General Health, Vitality, Physical Summary of SF-36, and Fatigue of CLDQ (P < 0.02). By contrast, patients with CHC had a lower Mental Health score of SF-36 and Emotional score of CLDQ and reported greater impairment in daily activities as measured by the Work Productivity and Activity Instrument questionnaire (P < 0.002). In multivariate analysis, after adjustment for demographic parameters, cirrhosis, and history of psychiatric disorders, having NASH was associated with lower physical HRQL scores and higher mental health-related scores (P < 0.05). DISCUSSION: Patients with NASH and advanced fibrosis have more impairment of their physical health-related scores than patients with CHC with advanced fibrosis. These data should dispel the misconception that NASH is an asymptomatic disease with little negative impact on patients' well-being.
Authors: Zobair M Younossi; Maria Stepanova; Mazen Noureddin; Kris V Kowdley; Simone I Strasser; Anita Kohli; Peter Ruane; Mitchell L Shiffman; Aasim Sheikh; Nadege Gunn; Stephen H Caldwell; Ryan S Huss; Robert P Myers; Vincent Wai-Sun Wong; Naim Alkhouri; Zachary Goodman; Rohit Loomba Journal: Hepatol Commun Date: 2021-05-12