Assessment of Quality of Life of Hepatitis C Virus Patients after Treatment with Direct-Acting Antiviral Drugs

El Sayed, Hani A.; Khalil, Khalil A.; El-Tantawy, Ashraf M.; Soliman, Nashaat M.

doi:10.21608/scumj.2023.323932

Assessment of Quality of Life of Hepatitis C Virus Patients after Treatment with Direct-Acting Antiviral Drugs

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Egypt.

² Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine-Suez Canal University, Egypt.

³ Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Egypt.

⁴ Department of Endemic and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Egypt.

10.21608/scumj.2023.323932

Abstract

Background: Infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the major causes of liver disease around the world. There is some disagreement as to the prognosis of patients with chronic hepatitis C. Most patients with chronic hepatitis C will have a normal life span and not suffer the consequences of this disease. Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) has gained prominence as a tool to assess the impact of chronic diseases and their treatments on the perception of health and patient well-being. Aim: To improve health-related quality of life among Egyptian hepatitis C virus patients.Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 80 patients who received direct-acting antiviral agents at the Center of Treatment of Viral Hepatitis in Ismailia Fever Hospital. The statistical analyses were performed according to onset age, the presence of family history, clinical examination, and severity of the disease. Results: This study showed the mean score of questionnaires as regards abdominal symptoms was 2.72 in studied patients, fatigue was 3.04, systemic symptoms were 3.20, activity was 3.5, emotional functions were 3.59 and worry was 3.90. Conclusion: patients with chronic hepatitis C with or without cirrhosis have markedly reduced HRQOL. Patients who had a sustained response (virological or biochemical) to interferon therapy experienced significant improvements in perceived wellness and functional status. Successful interferon therapy provides meaningful improvements in HRQOL in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

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