title: Patient health utility, work productivity, and lifestyle impairment in chronic hepatitis C patients in France.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  France has a high prevalence of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV). Clinical consequences of HCV are well-recognized, while health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and productivity impacts remain less understood. This study evaluates how HCV disease severity and HCV treatment outcomes impact HRQoL and productivity among patients in France.
  
  
  METHODS
  From October 2012 to January 2013, physicians treating HCV patients in France completed Patient Record Forms, which included information on patient demographics, disease stage, and treatment status. Subsequently, these HCV patients completed the EQ-5D-3L health-state instrument and the HCV-specific Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI:HepC) Questionnaire. Results are reported in descriptive and stratified analyses by disease stage and treatment status. Linear regression analyses were performed to determine independent associations between disease severity and treatment status with EQ-5D and WPAI:HepC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 297 matched physician and patient response forms completed. Mean EQ-5D Index score was 0.764, and mean EQ-VAS score was 65.85. Regression analyses showed that older age and worse disease severity were significantly associated with lower EQ-5D Index and EQ-VAS scores. Stratification of EQ-5D Index and EQ-VAS scores showed significantly better scores for HCV treatment responders compared to non-responders. Stratification of WPAI:HepC questions by disease stage revealed greater productivity impact on HCV patients with more severe disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a cross-sectional sample of HCV patients in France, worsening HRQoL and productivity/activity impairment was significantly associated with disease progression and increasing age. This information provides insight into the benefits of treating HCV patients and preventing disease progression.
authors.affiliation: AbbVie, Inc., AP31-01 Department GMH1, 1, North Waukegan Road, North Chicago, IL 60064, United States. Electronic address: jennifer.samp@abbvie.com.
authors.forename: Jennifer C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Samp
authors.affiliation: AbbVie, Inc., AP31-01 Department GMH1, 1, North Waukegan Road, North Chicago, IL 60064, United States.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.affiliation: AbbVie, Inc., AP31-01 Department GMH1, 1, North Waukegan Road, North Chicago, IL 60064, United States.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Piercy
authors.affiliation: AbbVie, Inc., AP31-01 Department GMH1, 1, North Waukegan Road, North Chicago, IL 60064, United States.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.affiliation: AbbVie, Inc., AP31-01 Department GMH1, 1, North Waukegan Road, North Chicago, IL 60064, United States.
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Baran
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004526:Efficiency; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006304:Health Status; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014937:Work