PIN7 - Evaluation Long-Term Effects Of Treatment And Response On Health Related Quality Of Life Among Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C

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Hepatitis C decreases health related quality of life (HRQL) which is further diminished by dual antiviral therapy. HRQL improves after successful treatment. This trial explores the course of and factors associated with HRQL in patients given individualized or standard treatment based on early treatment response. To study the relationship betweenv HRQL and mode of acquisition, treatment discontinuations and treatment outcome in patients with chronic hepatitis C. The Short Form SF-36 Health Survey was administered for evaluation health-related quality of life. Consecutive unselected Kazakh patients with chronic hepatitis C completed the SF-36 questionnaire before, during and after treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin before, during and after combination therapy. At baseline, HRQL was reduced in all SF-36 subscales in our patients as compared with the general Kazakh population by age, participating center, severity of liver disease and income. Exploring the course of HRQL (scores at follow up minus baseline), only the dimension general health increased. In this dimension patients with a relapse or sustained response differed from non-responders. Men and women differed in the dimension bodily pain. Treatment schedule did not influence the course of HRQL. Kazakh patients with chronic hepatitis C have a marked reduction in their HRQL as compared to the general population. Main determinants of HRQL were severity of liver disease, age, gender, participating center and response to treatment. Our results do not exclude a more profound negative impact of individualized treatment compared to standard, possibly caused by higher doses and extended treatment duration in the individualized group. Antiviral therapy might have a more intense and more prolonged negative impact on females. Early dropouts from therapy have significantly lower HRQL scores at baseline than adherent patients, and sustained viral responders improve their HRQL significantly more than non-responders.