[Measurement of the quality of life in chronic hepatitis C: validation of a general index and specific index. First French results].
OBJECTIVE
To report the validation of 2 questionnaires of quality of life in chronic hepatitis C and the first results in 100 patients.


METHODS
The questionnaire included 118 items and took 30 to 45 minutes to answer. It included a general index, the Nottingham Health Profile, with 38 items in 6 themes (physical mobility, social isolation, emotional reactions, pain, sleep and energy) and a specific index, the Montpellier Specific Index, with 80 items in 7 themes: symptoms, food, alcohol and tobacco, work, relations with other people, perception of disease.


RESULTS
The questionnaires were self-administered to the 100 first patients with chronic hepatitis C without cirrhosis before treatment; 55 men, 45 women, average age 40 year-old, median Knodell's score 8 and median METAVIR score A2 F1. Reduction in the quality of life was frequent and was not highly correlated with biological, virological and histological parameters; it was associated with psychological disorders, reduced sexuality and apprehension of the future.


CONCLUSIONS
This study showed the feasibility, validation, sensitivity and agreement of a quality of life questionnaire, which included a general index and a specific index of chronic hepatitis C in France. These initial results must be confirmed in studies during antiviral treatment of patients.
Remy
A J
AJ
Service d'Hépato-Gastroenterologie, Hôpital Saing-Eloi, Montpellier.
Daurès
J P
JP
Tanguy
G
G
Khemissa
F
F
Chevrier
M
M
Lezotre
P L
PL
Blanc
P
P
Larrey
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires