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Impaired health‐related quality of life in patients with chronic hepatitis C and persistently normal aminotransferase levels
Author(s) -
Von Wagner M.,
Lee J.H.,
Kronenberger B.,
Friedl R.,
Sarrazin C.,
Teuber G.,
Herrmann E.,
Zeuzem S.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of viral hepatitis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1365-2893
pISSN - 1352-0504
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2893.2006.00772.x
Subject(s) - medicine , quality of life (healthcare) , profile of mood states , mood , depression (economics) , hepatitis c , liver disease , chronic liver disease , chronic hepatitis , viral hepatitis , gastroenterology , immunology , psychiatry , virus , cirrhosis , nursing , economics , macroeconomics
Summary. A significant impact of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection on health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) has been previously described. However, comprehensive data on the quality of life in patients with chronic hepatitis C and persistently normal aminotransferase levels (PNAL) are currently not available. One hundred fifteen patients with chronic hepatitis C (45 with persistently normal aminotransferases and 70 with elevated aminotransferases) and 50 healthy subjects were enrolled. Emotional and psychological states were assessed by Profile of Mood States (POMS) scale and HRQOL was assessed by the ‘Everyday Life’ questionnaire (EDLQ), a validated questionnaire related to the SF‐36 Health Survey. An impairment in HRQOL was observed in patients with chronic hepatitis C showing PNAL compared with healthy subjects with significant differences for the factor scores depression and anger in the POMS scale as well as for the items body, relationship to partner, self‐confidence and zest of life in the EDLQ. No differences in any questionnaire were observed between patients with chronic hepatitis C showing PNAL or elevated aminotransferase levels except of a worse mean level for factor score anger in POMS scale in patients with persistently normal aminotransferases. No association of quality of life with severity of liver disease was found. Impairment of HRQOL by chronic infection with HCV is similar in patients with PNAL and those with elevated aminotransferase levels.