Health-Related Quality of Life of patients with chronic hepatitis C in the first six months of interferon therapy

Abstract

The present study investigated changes in the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients with chronic hepatitis C by identifying differences in patients'attributes during the first six months of interferon therapy and the factors related to these changes. Subjects were 35 patients with chronic epatitis C who responded to a total of 4 questionnaire surveys that were conducted at the time of hospitalization, one month after medical treatment began, after three months of treatment, and after six months of treatment. The main findings are as follows : In males, "mental health" HRQOL scores declined, and these reduced scores were maintained for six months. In females, "physical functioning" HRQOL scores declined, and these reduced scores were maintained for six months. For middle-aged patients, "role-physical" and "role-emotional" scores declined. For employed patients, "physical functioning", "role-physical", "bodily pain", "vitality", "social functioning", "role-emotional", and "mental health" scores declined, and these reduced scores were maintained for six months. The present findings suggest that sex, age, and employment are factors associated with HRQOL. In addition, since negative correlations were observed between HRQOL subscale scores and side effect scores, side effects are considered to have influenced HRQOL scores. With respect to HRQOL and self-efficacy, different correlations were observed depending on when during the treatment they were assessed. In order to maintain or improve the QOL of patients with chronic hepatitis C, future research must investigate continuous support systems that correspond to physical and mental changes and consider patients'attributes.