Abstract
Background: Hepatitis C is one of the most common causes of liver disease worldwide. Health impacts of hepatitis C are not limited to physical morbidity but include psychosocial dimensions such as quality of life (QOL), depression, anxiety, and stigmatization. In Malaysia, modifiable factors that can improve QOL among hepatitis C patients have not been adequately studied. Resilience – defined as the capacity to endure hardships and rebound from life adversities – is associated with mental health and well-being. Our study aims to test the association between resilience and QOL among hepatitis C patients. Methods: Employing a cross-sectional design, 195 hepatitis C patients who attended Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan (HTAA) – the main public tertiary hospital in Pahang – were recruited through convenience sampling. Resilience was assessed using the Connor-Davidson resilience scale while Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) was measured by 36-item short-form survey (SF-36v2). Multiple linear regression was run to determine the association between resilience and HRQOL. Results: We found significant associations between resilience and the physical (b=0.35; 95% CI: 0.11, 0.30; p<0.001) and mental dimension of HRQOL (b=0.47; 95% CI: 0.21, 0.42; p<0.001). Patients with higher resilience scores were more likely to have better HRQOL compared to those less resilient. Conclusion: Resilience may be a protective factor in the disease trajectory of hepatitis C in terms of QOL. Health care providers should incorporate resilience into the management of hepatitis patients, through a multidisciplinary approach. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol. 21(1) 2022 Page : 165-170
Highlights
Hepatitis C is one of the most common causes of liver disease worldwide
Close to 400,000 adults or 1.5%-2.0% of the population in Malaysia had hepatitis C in 2013, with a total of 80–150 million people living with the chronic condition worldwide[1]
The prevalence of Hepatitis C in Malaysia was stated at 1.3%, higher than other Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia (0.5%) and the Philippines (0.6%), 3,4 In 2009, an estimated 453,700 HCV-infected people lived in Malaysia in – comprising 2.5 per cent of the population aged 15 to 64 years – with 59% infected through needle sharing due to drug abuse.[5]
Summary
Hepatitis C is one of the most common causes of liver disease worldwide. Close to 400,000 adults or 1.5%-2.0% of the population in Malaysia had hepatitis C in 2013, with a total of 80–150 million people living with the chronic condition worldwide[1]. Deaths related to hepatitis C were reported to have reached 700,000 in 20132. The prevalence of Hepatitis C in Malaysia was stated at 1.3%, higher than other Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia (0.5%) and the Philippines (0.6%), 3,4 In 2009, an estimated 453,700 HCV-infected people lived in Malaysia in – comprising 2.5 per cent of the population aged 15 to 64 years – with 59% infected through needle sharing due to drug abuse.[5]. Hepatitis C infected individuals are at risk of developing advanced liver disease. Hepatitis C patients have been reported to experience anxiety, depression and irritability 7,8 – leading to decline in QOL
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