[Assessment of quality of life in chronic hepatitis C: effect of treatment].
OBJECTIVE
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Desmorat
Hervé
H
Centre d'Investigation des Maladies du Foie et des Voies Biliaires, Clinique du Parc, Toulouse. herve.desmorat@wanadoo.fr
Combis
Jean-Marc
JM
Pradat
Pierre
P
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires