Health-related quality of life is dynamic in alcoholic hepatitis and responds to improvement in liver disease and reduced alcohol consumption.

Abstract

The impact of alcoholic hepatitis (AH) on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) remains inadequately described. We aimed to characterize HRQOL in AH and heavy drinkers (HD), and its associations with clinical variables and outcomes. This is a post hoc analysis of participants in the Translational Research and Evolving Alcoholic Hepatitis Treatment 001 study (NCT02172898). HRQOL was measured using Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Mean SF-36 scores were compared in AH and HD with two-sample t-tests. Associations among clinical characteristics, 30-day mortality, and SF-36 mental and physical component scores (MC, PC) were investigated with generalized linear and logistic multivariate regression models. Trends of MC and PC scores were analyzed using one-way ANOVA. Participants with AH (n=258) and HD (n=181) were similar demographically. AH cases had a mean Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) score of 23 (7). AH cases had lower PC scores [37 (10) vs. 48 (11), p<0.001] but higher MC scores [37 (13) vs. 32 (13), p<0.001]. MC scores were independently associated with age, male gender, and daily alcohol consumption; PC scores were independently associated with age, BMI, alanine aminotransferase concentration, alkaline phosphatase concentration, white blood cell counts, and the presence of ascites. With each 5-point decrease in the baseline PC score, the adjusted odds of dying within 30days increased by 26.7% (95% CI 1% to 46%). Over time, HRQOL in AH improved (day 0 to day 180 delta PC score: 4.5±1.7, p=0.008; delta MC score: 9.8±2.0, p<0.001). Participants with a MELD score <15 by day 180 had greater increases in PC scores than those with MELD score ≥15 (delta PC score 7.1±1.8 vs. -0.7±2.3, p=0.009), while those abstinent by day 180 had greater increases in MC scores than those who were not abstinent (delta MC score 9.1±1.8 vs. 2.8±2.4, p=0.044). HRQOL is poor in AH and HD in a domain-specific pattern. Independent of MELD score, lower baseline HRQOL is associated with higher 30-day mortality. Over time, HRQOL improves with greater gains seen in individuals with improved MELD scores and those who were abstinent.