Health-Related Quality of Life among Patients with Chronic HCV Receiving Direct-Acting Antiviral (DDAs) Regimens

Background: Hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) is a major global cause of death and morbidity. The number of patients being treated has increased since the introduction of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). Objectives: To assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and mental health in patients with HCV during follow-up time of different DAAs regimens. Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 70 patients (35 easy to treat and 35 difficult to treat) attending HCV treatment clinic at El-Demerdash hospital, Cairo, Egypt. Data were collected using an interview questionnaire and patient hospital record. Results: HRQoL and mental wellbeing changed during the follow-up. After treatment, vitality and mental health scores improved, despite deterioration in social functioning, body pain, and general health measured by the SF36. Additionally, worsening of the mean overall quality of life by the LDSI 2.0 (from 2.6 to 33.0) and mental health by the DASS21 (from 0.94 to 3.0 for depression, from 0.91 to 5.0 for stress, and from 0.94 to 4.0 for anxiety) were observed. Triple therapy users reported more new symptoms, while dual therapy users had more severe symptoms, hindrance, and higher Liver Disease Symptom Index (LDSI) and NLV scores during therapy. There was significant difference between baseline, during, and end of therapy among dual and triple therapy as regarding LDSI total score and its subscales (P-value < 0.001). Conclusions: DAAs regimens for patients with HCV have a negative impact on their HRQoL. Follow-up, specifically long-term, may be required to examine lasting effects of different treatment modalities.