Health-related quality of life in patients with chronic hepatitis B

Authors: Bondini, Silvia; Kallman, Jillian; Dan, Amy; Younoszai, Zahra; Ramsey, Lolita; Nader, Fatema; Younossi, Zobair M.

Source: Liver International, Volume 27, Number 8, October 2007 , pp. 1119-1125(7)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

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Abstract:

Although chronic hepatitis C (CH-C) has consistently been shown to impair patients' health-related quality of life (HRQL), the impact of chronic hepatitis B (CH-B) on HRQL has not been fully explored. Aim:

Compare HRQL between patients with CH-B, CH-C, primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and healthy controls. Design:

Three HRQL questionnaires [Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ), Short Form 36 (SF-36) and the Health Utility Index (HUI Mark-2 and Mark-3)] were administered prospectively. Additional clinical and laboratory data and normative data for healthy individuals, were available. Analysis:

Scores were compared using analysis of variance and multiple regression. Results:

One hundred and forty-six patients with CH-B, CH-C and PBC were included [mean age 47.1 years (±11.6), 41% female, 33% cirrhosis]. CH-C and PBC patients scored the lowest on all CLDQ, SF-36 and HUI domains compared with CH-B patients and healthy controls. CH-B patients had scores similar to the healthy population, measured by most CLDQ and SF-36 scales. However, the HUI scores for CH-B patients showed more impairment than population norms. Having CH-B and not having cirrhosis were predictive of utility and HRQL scores in multivariate models. Conclusions:

CH-B patients have better HRQL than CH-C, PBC and population norms. CH-B patients' overall utility scores are lower than population norms.

Keywords: HBV; HRQL; QoL

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1478-3231.2007.01558.x

Affiliations: 1: Center for Liver Diseases, Inova Fairfax Hospital, Fairfax, VA, USA

Publication date: 2007-10-01