Impact of treating chronic hepatitis C with direct acting antivirals on health-related quality of life: a real-life Egyptian experience

• Published in: Egyptian Liver Journal 2024-02, Vol.14 (1), p.14-16
• Main Authors: Elbadry, Mohamed, Badawi, Mahmoud, Youssef, Naglaa, Duracinsky, Martin, Saleh, Shereen A, Funk, Anna, Elessawy, Hagar, Rumpler, Eva, Sayed, Khadiga, Vasiliu, Anca, Madec, Yoann, Fontanet, Arnaud, El-Kassas, Mohamed
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adults; Ascites; Blood tests; Clinical outcomes; Cohort analysis; Data collection; Direct acting antivirals (DAAs); Egypt; Health-related quality of life (HRQL); Hepatitis C; Hepatitis C virus (HCV); Liver cancer; Liver diseases; Outpatient care facilities; Patient-reported outcomes (PROs); Patients; Quality of life; Questionnaires; Schedules; Toxicity
• ISSN: 2090-6218; 2090-6226
• DOI: 10.1186/s43066-024-00317-8

BackgroundChronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection negatively impacts health-related quality of life (HRQL). We aimed to assess patient-reported outcomes (PROs) to evaluate the impact of treating chronic HCV with directly acting antivirals (DAAs) on HRQL.MethodsPROs were assessed prospectively using the PROQOL-HCV questionnaire before (week 0), at the end (week 12), and after DAA treatment at week 24. HRQL was measured in six different dimensions: physical health, emotional health, future uncertainty, intimate relationships, social health, and cognitive functions.ResultsA total of 500 HCV patients receiving DAAs were enrolled; of them, 399 were included in the analysis (median age 57 years, 59% females). HRQL increased significantly between baseline, end of treatment, and week 24 for all dimensions (P