title: Health-related quality of life and severity of fatigue in HIV/HCV co-infected patients before, during, and after antiviral therapy with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin.
abstract: The aim of this study was to prospectively assess health-related quality of life (HRQL) and severity of fatigue before, during and after antiviral therapy in HIV/HCV co-infected patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  59 HIV/HCV co-infected patients receiving pegylated interferon plus ribavirin (PEGIFN+RBV) in the HIVCOPEG study were included in this substudy evaluating the secondary endpoints HRQL and severity of fatigue.
  
  
  METHODS
  HRQL and severity of fatigue were assessed using SF36 and FSS, respectively. Advanced liver fibrosis was defined as METAVIR F3/F4 or liver stiffness >9.5 kPa.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, advanced liver fibrosis was associated with worse physical health. Mental health was impaired in female patients and in patients with a history of intravenous drug abuse, while a history of depression was associated with higher severity of fatigue. Female gender was associated with a more pronounced relative decrease in mental health during therapy. At follow-up, 24 weeks after the end of therapy, both physical health and fatigue symptoms had improved. Virological response was associated with better physical and mental health, as well as with reduced severity of fatigue. A correlation between anemia grade and the relative impairments in physical health, mental health and fatigue was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Antiviral therapy with PEGIFN+RBV impairs physical and mental health and increases severity of fatigue, while virological response is associated with improvements in physical health and fatigue symptoms. The optimization of anemia management is essential for reducing the burden of impaired HRQL and fatigue in HIV/HCV co-infected patients receiving antiviral therapy with PEGIFN+RBV.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Vienna HIV & Liver Study Group, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Mattias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mandorfer
authors.forename: Berit A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Payer
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Scheiner
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Breitenecker
authors.forename: Maximilian C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Aichelburg
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Grabmeier-Pfistershammer
authors.forename: Armin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rieger
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trauner
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peck-Radosavljevic
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Reiberger
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000523:psychology / Q000821:virology; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D060085:Coinfection; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005221:Fatigue / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a
keywords: Antiviral therapy; FSS; HIV; SF36; hepatitis C; pegylated interferon; quality of life; ribavirin