AI Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to evaluate the Quality of Life (QoL) in patients with chronic hepatitis C before, during, and after antiviral treatment and to understand treatment impacts on their QoL.
- A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess QoL, with results indicating that those who responded to treatment saw significant improvements in physical and general health metrics, while non-responders experienced some mental health benefits despite physical score declines.
- The conclusion highlights that achieving a sustained virological response leads to better QoL for hepatitis C patients, and even non-responders reported improved general health perception, suggesting these insights could encourage more patients to seek treatment.
Article Abstract
Objectives: To study Quality of Life during chronic hepatitis C infection in patients recruited by hospital-based- or private hepatologists and to assess the effect of antiviral therapy.
Methods: A self-administered quality of life questionnaire (SF36) was proposed before, during, and 6 months after the end of treatment. The quality of life scales were assessed according to treatment response.
Results: 599 patients filled in the questionnaire before treatment and 168 patients 6 months after the end of treatment. After 6 months of therapy, patients with treatment response (n=54) showed increased scores in all SF-36 scales, this increase reaching more than 25% for "Role Physical", "General Health Perception" and "Vitality" scores. Non-responders (n=70) had an impairment of physical scores but a general improvement of Mental Health.
Conclusion: This study confirms that sustained virological response is associated with an improved quality of life in hepatitis C patients. However, non-responders still have a positive "General Health Perception". Together with the development of new therapies, these observations could help to convince reluctant patients to be treated.
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