title: Quality of life correlation with socioeconomic status in Korean hepatitis-B patients: a cross sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Korea, more than two-thirds of hepatocellular carcinoma patients are hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen-seropositive. The effects of HBV infection on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are important aspects in the overall management of HBV infection. However, other effects of other parameters on HBV patient HRQoL remain unknown and require clarification. Our study evaluated HRQoL in hepatitis-B patients, according to socioeconomic status.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used community health survey data to analyze the relationship between HRQoL of HBV(+) patients according to socioeconomic status. We used propensity score matching (Ratio = 1:5) to balancing the patients and general population. Final analytic sample consisted of 7,098 hepatitis B patients and compared group (35,490 general populations). We examined the HRQoL in HBV(+) patients (n = 7,098), stratified by socioeconomic status, compared with general populations, using the EuroQOL visual analog scale (EQ-VAS) and EQ-5D questionnaires. We used the Chi-square test and ANOVA to compare demographic variables. Multiple linear regression analysis identified associations between demographic variables and HRQoL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants with hepatitis B numbered 7,098 (16.7 %) of the study population. HRQoL was lower in hepatitis-B patients compared to the general population (EQ-VAS: -0.985, p = 0.0004; EQ-5D: -0.673, p = 0.0003). According to occupation type, clerks (EQ-VAS: -2.628, p = 0.0030; EQ-5D: -0.802, p = 0.0099) and managers and professionals (EQ-VAS: -1.518, p = 0.0356) had the lowest HRQoLs. Higher family income and education level groups had lower HRQoLs compared to the general population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients from higher socioeconomic status groups had HRQoLs that were more affected by hepatitis B. Thus, we require more accurate information about the disease to develop appropriate patient management guidelines. This will facilitate formulating policies and management strategies that alleviate HRQoL declines in HBV(+) patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. yuwooki@yuhs.ac.|Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. yuwooki@yuhs.ac.
authors.forename: Seung Ju
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. kthan@yuhs.ac.|Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. kthan@yuhs.ac.
authors.forename: Kyu-Tae
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. sunjung5958@yuhs.ac.|Department of Health Policy and Management, Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. sunjung5958@yuhs.ac.
authors.forename: Seo Yoon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. ecpark@yuhs.ac.|Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 120-752, Republic of Korea. ecpark@yuhs.ac.
authors.forename: Eun-Cheol
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011788:Quality of Life; D012044:Regression Analysis; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D064232:Visual Analog Scale; D055815:Young Adult