[Socio-economical aspects, quality of life and state of knowledge in hepatitis B patients. Socio-economical aspects in hepatitis B].
BACKGROUND
Little is known about socio-economical consequences and information status of patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.


OBJECTIVE
The present study prospectively analyzed questionnaires about socio-economical consequences and information status including the SF12 quality-of-life analysis in HBV-infected subjects. Overall 1500 questionnaires were distributed by clinics, practioners, patient support groups and internet; 255 questionnaires were sent back. Results were compared with a recent study in 714 HCV infected patients (Z Gastroenterol 2006; 44: 305-317).


RESULTS
HBV-infected patients were younger (mean 46 vs. 52 years), more likely to be male (62 vs. 44%) and to come from abroad (30 vs. 9%) when compared with HCV-infected subjects. Only 1 and 4% of HBV- and HCV-infected subjects, respectively, considered the public information about hepatitis as good or very good, 73 and 77%, however, as bad or very bad. Mental and physical quality-of-life (SF12) was better in HBV- than in HCV-infected subjects, but reduced when compared with a sex- and age-matched general population (p < 0.001). Quality-of-life decreased with increases in HBV-DNA, fibrosis and inflammation. In both HBV- and HCV-infected subjects there were information deficits concerning the risks for infection; some of these were more pronounced in HBV-infected subjects when compared to HCV-infected ones. German subjects with HBV and HCV infection are in general well informed about their infection (73-87% knew ALT and histology results); however, HBV-infected subjects are less well informed in particular about viral load and HBeAg (59 and 30%) when compared with HCV infected subjects who knew HCV-RNA and genotype in 80-85%.


CONCLUSIONS
The information deficits about viral load are of concern for HBV-infected subjects because these data are more important in HBV than in HCV infection. This lack of information likely reflects a lack of attentiveness towards HBV-DNA levels by the patients' physician. Both HBV- and HCV-infected subjects have problems at work and with various insurances; both have a reduced quality-of-life which correlates with viral load and degree of inflammation and fibrosis. Both populations consider the public information status about viral hepatitis to be bad.
Niederau
C
C
Deutsche Leberhilfe e. V., Köln. claus.niederau@st-josef.de
Fischer
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C
Kautz
A
A
D017677:Age Distribution; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010361:Patients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011788:Quality of Life; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires