title: Quality of Life and Social Functioning during Treatment of Recent Hepatitis C Infection: A Multi-Centre Prospective Cohort.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Despite effective treatment for recent hepatitis C (HCV) infection, side-effects and adherence concerns limit its use among people who inject drugs (PWID). This study evaluated health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and social functioning following infection and during recent HCV treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Australian Trial of Acute Hepatitis C studied the natural history and treatment of recent HCV infection. HRQoL (SF-12v2) and social functioning (Opiate Treatment Index score) were measured over 48 weeks and their impact on treatment uptake, adherence and virological response were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 163 participants, 111 received treatment (HCV n = 74, SVR 55%; HCV/HIV n = 37, SVR 74%). 116 (71%) were male, 124 (76%) ever injected drugs, with 55 (36%) injecting recently and 28/55 (51%) reported needle/syringe sharing. At baseline, median physical and mental HRQoL was 54 units (IQR 46-58) and 46 (35-54) (reference median: 50), respectively, and median social functioning score was 11 units (7-17). Higher social function (<10 vs ≥15) predicted increased treatment uptake (AOR 3.43, 95%CI 1.01-11.6, p = 0.048) and higher SVR (AOR 5.11, 95%CI 1.30-20.15, p = 0.020). After adjustment, treated participants had lower physical (-4.90 units, 95%CI -6.33 to -3.48, p<0.001) and mental HRQoL (-3.7 units, 95%CI -5.55 to -1.86, p<0.001) at on-treatment visits, but HRQoL returned to baseline levels during follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Social functioning can predict recent HCV treatment uptake and SVR. Efforts to maximise social stability may improve treatment response. Pegylated-interferon treatment is associated with reduced HRQoL on-treatment in an already vulnerable population of PWID that would be better served by interferon-free regimens particularly in treated target at PWID to prevent transmission.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00192569.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Population Health, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia.|Department of Infectious Diseases, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.|School of Population Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Joseph S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Doyle
authors.affiliation: Viral Hepatitis Clinical Research Program, Kirby Institute, UNSW Australia, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grebely
authors.affiliation: Centre for Population Health, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Spelman
authors.affiliation: Viral Hepatitis Clinical Research Program, Kirby Institute, UNSW Australia, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alavi
authors.affiliation: Viral Hepatitis Clinical Research Program, Kirby Institute, UNSW Australia, Sydney, Australia.|Infectious Diseases Unit, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Gail V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.|Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Alexander J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.affiliation: Viral Hepatitis Clinical Research Program, Kirby Institute, UNSW Australia, Sydney, Australia.|Infectious Diseases Unit, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Gregory J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Dore
authors.affiliation: Centre for Population Health, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia.|Department of Infectious Diseases, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.|School of Population Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Margaret E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Hellard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001315:Australia; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016485:Needle Sharing; D010349:Patient Compliance; D063868:Patient Outcome Assessment; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin