Health-related quality of life and fatigue in patients with chronic hepatitis C with therapy with direct-acting antivirals agents interferon-free.

INTRODUCTION: Interferon (IFN)-free regimens for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C have shown high rates of sustained virological response (SVR) and improved patient-reported outcomes (PROs). The aim of this study was to evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and fatigue of patients with chronic hepatitis C (HCV) treated with IFN-free direct-acting antiviral (DAA) agents that achieved SVR following treatment and identify the predictive factors related to HRQoL. METHODS: Prospective cohort study that included patients with HCV treated with DAA who obtained an SVR. The patients answered three self-reported questionnaires (PROs): Short Form 36 (SF-36), the Chronic Liver Diseases Questionnaire (CLDQ), and the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F) questionnaire at baseline, weeks 6 and 12 of treatment, and at 12 weeks after therapy. Patients were treated with DAA with or without ribavirin (RBV). The PRO scores were compared using analysis of variance (ANOVA). A comparison of PROs and serum hemoglobin levels was performed between the group that used ribavirin and the one that did not use ribavirin using the t student test. Predictive factors were calculated using a multiple linear regression model. RESULTS: Among the 113 patients selected, 105 presented an SVR and were included in the study, in which, 54% men, 80% genotype 1, 44% cirrhosis and 46% with RBV. At 12 weeks after the end of treatment, there was a significant improvement in the scores of the patient self-reports (PROs) when compared with baseline for the CLDQ (+10.52%, p<0.001), SF-36-Physical Summary (+19%, p<0.001), and FACIT (+17.34%, p<0.001). Patients who used RBV had worse PROs and serum hemoglobin levels compared to the group that did not use RBV (p<0,05). As predictors of worsening of the PROs we had the presence of diabetes mellitus, liver cirrhosis and HIV co-infected. CONCLUSION: Patients treated with IFN free regimens presents significant improvement in PROs. The presence of diabetes mellitus, cirrhosis, and HIV co-infected has a negative effect on HRQoL before, during and after treatment of hepatitis C. The addition of ribavirin to the antiviral regimens used compromises the HRQoL indexes during antiviral therapy.

Health-Related Quality of Life in patients with hepatitis C in double and triple therapy / Calidad de vida relacionada con la salud en pacientes con hepatitis c en terapia doble y triple / Qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde em pacientes com hepatite C em terapia dupla e tripla

Abstract OBJECTIVE Comparing Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) scores in patients with chronic hepatitis C undergoing double and triple antiviral therapy and analyzing possible factors related to HRQoL. METHOD HRQoL was assessed using the Short Form 36 and Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire, which were applied at baseline and at weeks 4, 12 and 16 of treatment to 32 patients divided into two groups: double therapy with pegylated interferon (IFN-PEG) and ribavirin, and triple therapy with PEG-IFN, ribavirin and telaprevir. RESULTS The reduction of HRQoL was greater in patients receiving triple therapy compared to those treated with two drugs, the most critical time is at 12 weeks in both groups. After removal of telaprevir, the triple therapy group significantly improved their HRQoL scores. Anxiety and depression before treatment, employment status and race are significantly related to diminished HRQoL. CONCLUSION Patients undergoing double and triple therapy have diminished HRQoL indexes, but the addition of telaprevir chooses a more significant decrease.

Resumen OBJETIVO Comparar los puntajes de Calidad de Vida Relacionada con la Salud (CVRS) en pacientes con hepatitis C crónica sometidos a la terapia antiviral doble y triple y analizar los posibles factores relacionados con la CVRS. MÉTODO La CVRS fue evaluada utilizando el Short Form 36 y elChronic Liver Disease Questionnaire , que fueron aplicados antes y en las semanas 4, 12 y 16 de tratamiento, en 32 pacientes divididos en 2 grupos: terapia doble con interferón pegilado (IFN-PEG) y ribavirina, y triple con IFN-PEG, ribavirina y telaprevir. RESULTADOS La reducción de la CVRS fue mayor en pacientes en terapia triple cuando comparados con los tratados con dos drogas, siendo el momento más crítico la 12ª semana en ambos grupos. Después de la retirada del telaprevir, el grupo de terapia triple mejoró de modo significativo los puntajes de CVRS. Ansiedad y depresión en el pre tratamiento, situación de empleo y raza se mostraron relacionados con la reducción de la CVRS. CONCLUSIÓN Pacientes sometidos a la terapia doble y triple presentan reducción de los índices de CVRS, pero la adición del telaprevir les proporciona una caída más expresiva.

Resumo OBJETIVO Comparar os escores de Qualidade de Vida Relacionada à Saúde (QVRS) em pacientes com hepatite crônica C submetidos à terapia antiviral dupla e tripla e analisar os possíveis fatores relacionados à QVRS. MÉTODO A QVRS foi avaliada utilizando o Short Form 36 e oChronic Liver Disease Questionnaire , que foram aplicados antes e nas semanas 4, 12 e 16 de tratamento, em 32 pacientes divididos em 2 grupos: terapia dupla com interferon peguilado (IFN-PEG) e ribavirina e tripla com IFN-PEG, ribavirina e telaprevir. RESULTADOS A redução da QVRS foi maior em pacientes em terapia tripla quando comparados àqueles tratados com duas drogas, sendo o momento mais crítico a 12ª semana em ambos os grupos. Após a retirada do telaprevir, o grupo terapia tripla melhorou de modo significativo os escores de QVRS. Ansiedade e depressão no pré-tratamento, status empregatício e raça se mostraram relacionados à redução da QVRS. CONCLUSÃO Pacientes submetidos à terapia dupla e tripla apresentam redução dos índices de QVRS, mas a adição do telaprevir confere uma queda mais expressiva.

[Health-Related Quality of Life in patients with hepatitis C treated with dual and triple therapy]. / Qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde em pacientes com hepatite C em terapia dupla e tripla.

OBJECTIVE: Comparing Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) scores in patients with chronic hepatitis C undergoing double and triple antiviral therapy and analyzing possible factors related to HRQoL. METHOD: HRQoL was assessed using the Short Form 36 and Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire, which were applied at baseline and at weeks 4, 12 and 16 of treatment to 32 patients divided into two groups: double therapy with pegylated interferon (IFN-PEG) and ribavirin, and triple therapy with PEG-IFN, ribavirin and telaprevir. RESULTS: The reduction of HRQoL was greater in patients receiving triple therapy compared to those treated with two drugs, the most critical time is at 12 weeks in both groups. After removal of telaprevir, the triple therapy group significantly improved their HRQoL scores. Anxiety and depression before treatment, employment status and race are significantly related to diminished HRQoL. CONCLUSION: Patients undergoing double and triple therapy have diminished HRQoL indexes, but the addition of telaprevir chooses a more significant decrease.