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Health‐related quality of life and severity of fatigue in HIV / HCV co‐infected patients before, during, and after antiviral therapy with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin
Author(s) -
Mandorfer Mattias,
Payer Berit A.,
Scheiner Bernhard,
Breitenecker Florian,
Aichelburg Maximilian C.,
GrabmeierPfistershammer Katharina,
Rieger Armin,
Trauner Michael,
PeckRadosavljevic Markus,
Reiberger Thomas
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
liver international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.873
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1478-3231
pISSN - 1478-3223
DOI - 10.1111/liv.12253
Subject(s) - medicine , ribavirin , pegylated interferon , quality of life (healthcare) , hepatitis c , anemia , mental health , depression (economics) , physical therapy , hepatitis c virus , immunology , psychiatry , virus , nursing , economics , macroeconomics
Abstract The aim of this study was to prospectively assess health‐related quality of life ( HRQL ) and severity of fatigue before, during and after antiviral therapy in HIV / HCV co‐infected patients. Design 59 HIV / HCV co‐infected patients receiving pegylated interferon plus ribavirin ( PEGIFN + RBV ) in the HIVCOPEG study were included in this substudy evaluating the secondary endpoints HRQL and severity of fatigue. Methods HRQL and severity of fatigue were assessed using SF 36 and FSS , respectively. Advanced liver fibrosis was defined as METAVIR F3/F4 or liver stiffness >9.5 kPa. Results At baseline, advanced liver fibrosis was associated with worse physical health. Mental health was impaired in female patients and in patients with a history of intravenous drug abuse, while a history of depression was associated with higher severity of fatigue. Female gender was associated with a more pronounced relative decrease in mental health during therapy. At follow‐up, 24 weeks after the end of therapy, both physical health and fatigue symptoms had improved. Virological response was associated with better physical and mental health, as well as with reduced severity of fatigue. A correlation between anemia grade and the relative impairments in physical health, mental health and fatigue was observed. Conclusions Antiviral therapy with PEGIFN + RBV impairs physical and mental health and increases severity of fatigue, while virological response is associated with improvements in physical health and fatigue symptoms. The optimization of anemia management is essential for reducing the burden of impaired HRQL and fatigue in HIV / HCV co‐infected patients receiving antiviral therapy with PEGIFN + RBV .