الفهرس 
Introduction and aim of the studyOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Hepatitis C is a highly prevalent infectious disease among Egyptian population, which undermines the quality of life of chronic patients. Different types of interferon and antiviral drugs are used in the treatment and have significant side effects that may alter quality of life of the treated chronic hepatitis C patients.
Objectives of the study:
1. To assess health related quality of life (HRQOL) in HCV-infected patients (at the beginning, after 3 months, and at the end of receiving the interferon treatment).
2. To determine factors associated with reduced HRQOL in these patients.
3. To evaluate the impact of the three types of interferon (pegylated interferon α-2a, pegylated interferon α -2b and pegylated interferon α -2a (reiferon Retard) upon (HRQOL).
Research hypothesis:
We hypothesized that HRQOL in CHC patients is significantly impaired in most SF-36 domains, and it would be more deteriorated during early antiviral treatment. However a significant improvement would be observed at the end of antiviral treatment.
Subjects and methods:
This prospective consecutive hospital based study included 120 chronic hepatitis C patients of them 63 patients attending the Interferon Unit in Samalot city and 57 attending the Health Insurance Hospital in El-Minia city from January 2013 to January 2015. The study was conducted to assess the HRQOL and its relation to socio-demographic and clinical characteristics in HCV-infected patients (at the beginning, after 3 months, and at the end of receiving the interferon treatment using “SF-36V2 questionnaire”.
Criteria of inclusion:
- All patients who are clinically and laboratory assessed at the study site and found to be good candidates for receiving treatment (i.e. antiviral therapy in form of ribavirin and interferon) at health insurance hospital and the interferon unit in one day surgery hospital in Samalot district.
- Age above 18 years.
Criteria of exclusion:
- CHC patients not receiving treatment.
-CHC patients who are already on interferon treatment during the emanation of the study.
Statistical analysis:
Data entry and analysis were all done with IBM compatible computer using software called Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) for windows version 18. Graphics were done using Excel.
Quantitative data were presented by mean and standard deviation, while qualitative data were presented by frequency distribution. Correlation, Chi Square, linear regression, one way-ANOVA and t test were done.
The probability of less than 0.05 used as a cut off point for all significant tests.
Results:
- The mean scores of the components of Short Form 36 (SF-36) (HRQOL) Questionnaire (baseline scores), general health had the lowest score (66.41 ± 15.75) followed by vitality (69.57 ± 21.84) while Role emotional had the highest score (94.30 ± 21.33). Also physical component summary scores (PCS) was slightly higher than mental component summary scores (MCS) (52.7 ± 7.33).
- The most important socio-demographic and clinical factors affecting PCS was sex, while the least factors were age and residence (R²= 0.2, p= 0.01). While the most important socio-demographic and clinical factors affecting MCS among the studied chronic hepatitis c patients was marital state, while the least factor was hemoglobin level (R²= 0.08 , p= 0.5).
- There was a significant positive weak correlation between physical and mental component scores (r= 0.27, p= 0.003)
- Subjects showed significantly lower SF-36 scores at the 12th week of treatment compared to the pretreatment values. Mean scores of all SF-36 domains improved by the end of treatment, (P < 0.01).