Virologic response to therapy increases health-related quality of life for patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Background & Aims: We evaluated changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a longitudinal study of patients given antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Methods: We analyzed changes in HRQoL reported by 2856 Korean patients with CHB who started first-line or rescue antiviral therapy from January 2007 to June 2007; the mean age of the study subjects was 43.3 years, 72% were male, 80% were positive for hepatitis B e antigen, 20% had cirrhosis, and 13% had concomitant disease. These subjects all completed the translated version of the Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ) and the EuroQol-5 Dimension (EQ5D) when the study began (baseline), and at the end of a 24-week follow-up period. We analyzed changes in utility scores from baseline to 24 weeks of antiviral treatment.

Results: After 24 weeks of antiviral therapy, patients had significant improvements in liver function and reduced mean levels of hepatitis B virus DNA (from 6.3 to 3.9 log(10) copies/mL). Utility scores from the visual analogue scale and EQ5D improved after 24 weeks of antiviral therapy (from 0.84 ± 0.19 to 0.94 ± 0.14; P < .0001). Improved CLDQ scores were associated with virologic response (level of hepatitis B virus DNA, <4 log(10) copies/mL); scores increased from 5.21 ± 0.99 at baseline to 6.09 ± 0.72 after 24 weeks of antiviral therapy in responders, but from 5.31 ± 0.94 at baseline to 6.06 ± 0.66 in nonresponders (P = .003).

Conclusions: Patients with CHB who have a virologic response to 24 weeks of antiviral therapy also have significant improvements in HRQoL, measured by EQ5D and CLDQ.