Health-Related Quality of Life in patients with hepatitis C treated with dual and triple therapy

Raíssa Neves Fagundes,Fábio Heleno De Lima Pace,Lincoln Eduardo Villela Vieira De Castro Ferreira Ferreira

doi:10.1590/s0080-623420150000600009

Raíssa Neves Fagundes, Fábio Heleno De Lima Pace + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s0080-623420150000600009

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Abstract

Comparing Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) scores in patients with chronic hepatitis C undergoing double and triple antiviral therapy and analyzing possible factors related to HRQoL. HRQoL was assessed using the Short Form 36 and Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire, which were applied at baseline and at weeks 4, 12 and 16 of treatment to 32 patients divided into two groups: double therapy with pegylated interferon (IFN-PEG) and ribavirin, and triple therapy with PEG-IFN, ribavirin and telaprevir. The reduction of HRQoL was greater in patients receiving triple therapy compared to those treated with two drugs, the most critical time is at 12 weeks in both groups. After removal of telaprevir, the triple therapy group significantly improved their HRQoL scores. Anxiety and depression before treatment, employment status and race are significantly related to diminished HRQoL. Patients undergoing double and triple therapy have diminished HRQoL indexes, but the addition of telaprevir chooses a more significant decrease.

Highlights

1.5% of the world population is chronically infected by the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)(1-3)
All patients were followed up to 16 weeks of treatment, since the aim of the study was to determine the influence of telaprevir on Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) indexes, and what differs between both groups up to the 12th week of treatment is the presence of telaprevir
There was a predominance of genotype 1 (75%) and liver cirrhosis was present in 34% of patients

Summary

Introduction

1.5% of the world population is chronically infected by the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)(1-3). In Brazil, new drugs have become available for treating chronic hepatitis C, namely direct action antivirals such as telaprevir (TVR) and boceprevir (BOC). They are recommended for patients with genotype 1 and advanced fibrosis. Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) has gained prominence as a tool to assess the impact of chronic diseases and their treatments on the perception of health and patient well-being[4,9,10]. Short Form 36 (SF-36), a generic instrument, and Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ), which is for HRQoL analysis in patients with chronic liver disease, have been used[11]

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