title: Cancer history and other personal factors affect quality of life in patients with hepatitis C.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) have been found to have reduced quality of life, little is known about how other characteristics affect their quality of life. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of other characteristics, including history of cancer, on quality of life in patients with CHC.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred forty patients from clinics at three hospitals in New York City completed a detailed epidemiologic interview about demographic and lifestyle characteristics and the SF-36 measuring health-related quality of life. We compared results from our patients to normative data using t-tests of differences between means. We used multivariate analyses to determine other personal and health-related factors associated with quality of life outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to normative data, these patients had reduced quality of life, particularly on physical functioning. The summary Physical Component Score (PCS) was 45.4 +/- 10.6 and the Mental Component Score (MCS) was 48.2 +/- 11.1, vs norms of 50 +/- 10.0; p-values were < 0.0001 and < 0.05, respectively. In multivariate analyses, the PCS was significantly lower among those with cancer history, > or = 2 other chronic conditions, less education, low physical activity, and higher alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. Cancer was more important for men, while other chronic conditions were more important for women. On the MCS, history of depression, low physical activity, alcohol use, and female gender were independently associated with poorer scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Several health and lifestyle factors independently influence quality of life in CHC patients. Different factors are important for men and women.
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan Medical School, 1301 Catherine Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. olsons@mskcc.org
authors.forename: Sara H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.forename: Sandy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iyer
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Orry
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Erez
authors.forename: Shelby
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Samuel
authors.forename: Temima
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Markovits
authors.forename: Myron
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Charlene
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Toro
authors.forename: Maya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gambarin-Gelwan
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Kurtz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D009519:New York City; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012737:Sex Factors; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins