Quality of life in patients with hepatitis C

Abstract

Quality of life is commonly diminished in anti-HCV-positive patients. On the other hand, decreased HRQOL does not seem to be a necessary consequence of HCV infection, as up to 50% of patients do not have any reductions in specific SF-36 and up to 75% in HADS measurements. This leads to the conclusion that clinical relevant factors for low HRQOL are independent of HCV and seem mainly related to the host (low socio-economic status, and history of IVDU). Thus, the personal background, rather than the HCV infection itself, was responsible for the decreased well-being. Furthermore, HRQOL scores seem to be relatively independent of important disease factors such as cirrhosis or ALT level. Most importantly, we demonstrated in a comprehensive approach that the presence of HCV per se does not influence HRQOL. Our findings stress the need to reconsider the role of low HRQOL as an indication for antiviral treatment. However this findings stress also that care for HCV patients means not to limit the doctor's interest on patients HCV-RNA level. Therapists have to care comprehensively for HCV-patients to improve patients HRQOL caring especially for IVDU and socioeconomically problems.