Related Experiment Videos
Determinants of quality of life in chronic liver patients
J J Gutteling1, R A de Man, S M van der Plas
1Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. j.gutteling@erasmusmc.nl
Background And Aim:
Health-related quality of life of patients with chronic liver disease has been shown to be impaired in numerous studies. However, the factors which influence health-related quality of life in treated chronic liver patients are not quite known. This is the first study to assess the impact of physical and psychosocial determinants on a weighted score of health-related quality of life in patients with chronic liver disease.
Methods:
The data of 1175 chronic liver patients were used to assess the relationship between items of the disease-specific Liver Disease Symptom Index 2.0 and the Short Form (SF)-6D weighted utility score by means of linear regression analyses.
Results:
Health-related quality of life was most strongly related to disease severity (B = -0.029) and joint pain (B = -0.023). Depression (B = -0.014), pain in the right upper abdomen (B = -0.014), decreased appetite (B = 0.014) and fatigue (B = -0.013) were also strongly related to health-related quality of life. In hepatitis C virus patients, disease severity (B = -0.037) and depression (B = -0.030) were strong determinants of health-related quality of life.
Conclusions:
This study shows that health-related quality of life in chronic liver patients is clearly determined by disease severity, joint pain, depression, decreased appetite and fatigue. These patients may benefit most from interventions aimed at improving adaptation to the symptoms described.
Related Concept Videos
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Pathophysiologic Assessment and Liver Function Test
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Drug Dosing and Hepatic Blood Flow
Cirrhosis I: Introduction
Cirrhosis II: Pathophysiology
Chronic Pancreatitis II: Collaborative Care
Assessment:
Diseases of the Liver and Gallbladder
Cirrhosis is characterized by the scarring of hepatic lobules in the liver, which are replaced by fibrous tissue, affecting the liver's normal functioning. NAFLD, on the other hand, is caused by an excessive build-up of fat in the liver, not related to...