Abstract
AimThe aim of this study was to investigate the factors affecting health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in Nepalese patients with chronic liver disease (CLD).MethodsIn this study, HRQOL was measured with validated Nepali versions of the short-form 36 (SF-36) survey. Socioeconomic factors, etiology, laboratory parameters, disease severity, and self-rated health perceptions on HRQOL were recorded for analysis.ResultsSixty CLD patients were enrolled in the study. The following HRQOL scores were obtained: physical functioning (PF) (34.4 ±26.7), role limitation due to physical health (RLPH) (7.5 ±17.8), role limitation due to emotional problems (RLEP) (27.7 ±38.2), energy or fatigue (E/F) (38.5 ±21.5), emotional well-being (EWB) (57.7 ±22.8), social functioning (SF) (55.2 ±23.5), pain (44.8 ±30.3), and general health (GH) (38.2 ±17). Employed status and higher annual family income had a positive impact on HRQOL. Ascites and abnormal upper gastrointestinal endoscopic findings were associated with poor health status perceptions. More severe disease (higher Child-Pugh class) was associated with lower HRQOL scores. A significant negative correlation between the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score and HRQOL domains was observed (p: <0.05). Age, gender, religion, education, and duration of the diagnosis of CLD had no effect on HRQOL of CLD patients.ConclusionHRQOL in patients with CLD was lower than that in the general population. Unemployed status, low annual family income, ascites, abnormal upper gastrointestinal endoscopic findings, and higher Child-Pugh class and MELD scores were important factors that adversely affected HRQOL.
Highlights
Chronic liver disease (CLD) is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide
We found that patients with Child-Pugh stage C had lower scores in all domains of health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and their scores in domains social functioning (SF) (22), energy or fatigue (E/F) (22.08), and pain (26.90) were significantly lower compared with patients in stages A and B
Using a validated Nepali version of short-form 36 (SF-36), we found that the patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) had low overall HRQOL scores compared with the general Nepalese population
Summary
Chronic liver disease (CLD) is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. CLD has affected 844 million people, with an annual mortality rate of two million [1]. Liver cirrhosis is the 11th most common cause of death globally [2]. It has been estimated that liver cirrhosis is within the top 20 causes of disability-adjusted life years and years of life lost [2]. Patients with CLD may suffer from anxiety, depression, and other emotional problems. The multidimensional concept of HRQOL includes different domains relating to emotional, mental, social, and physical problems in the context of the disease and its management [6]
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