New hepatitis C virus quality of care study results reported from Johann Wolfgang Goethe University
December 29th, 2008
2008 DEC 29 -- Current study results from the report, 'Deterioration of health-related quality of life and fatigue in patients with chronic hepatitis C: Association with demographic factors, inflammatory activity, and degree of fibrosis,' have been published. "Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is impaired in patients with chronic hepatitis C. We investigated HRQoL and fatigue in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in relation to the degree of fibrosis and inflammation, and controlled for the influence of relevant demographic and medical variables," scientists in Frankfurt, Germany report.
"We conducted a cross-sectional two-center study including 215 outpatients with chronic hepatitis C applying the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and the Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS-D). The contribution to the variability of these psychometric scores was evaluated for the degree of fibrosis as well as viremia, gender, age, mode of transmission, genotype, and ALT. There was a strong negative association between the degree of liver fibrosis and the physical SF-36 summary score (p=0.016). This was independent of the covariate age, also significantly predicting physical HRQoL (p=0.001). The absolute FIS score was significantly increased in patients with advanced fibrosis (p=0.043). In females, mental SF-36 summary score (p=0.007) and fatigue (p=0.017) were significantly more impaired. Our study suggests a significant association of physical aspects of HRQoL and fatigue with the extent of fibrosis," wrote G. Teuber and colleagues, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University.
The researchers concluded: "Fibrosis stage should be considered for the identification and management of HCV patients at risk for reduced physical HRQoL."
Teuber and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Hepatology (Deterioration of health-related quality of life and fatigue in patients with chronic hepatitis C: Association with demographic factors, inflammatory activity, and degree of fibrosis. Journal of Hepatology, 2008;49(6):923-9).
For more information, contact G. Teuber, Medizinische Klinik I, Klinikum der Johann Wolfgang Goethe Universitat, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt, Main, Germany.
Publisher contact information for the Journal of Hepatology is: Elsevier Science BV, PO Box 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Keywords: Germany, Frankfurt, Hepatitis C Virus Quality of Care, Chronic Hepatitis C, Fatigue, Fibrosis, Gastroenterology, Gender Health, Gender Medicine, HCV, Hepatitis C Virus, Hepatology, Infectious Disease, Inflammation, Quality of Care, Quality of Life, Virology, Women's Health.
This article was prepared by Hepatitis Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, Hepatitis Weekly via NewsRx.com.
