Quality of life and cognitive function in hepatitis C at different stages of liver disease.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatitis C has been associated with a decrease in quality of life and with neurological abnormalities. The aim of our study was to investigate the relationship between quality of life and cognitive function.

METHODS

Quality of life, clinical variables and neuropsychological function were evaluated in 120 patients with hepatitis C (mild chronic hepatitis, compensated cirrhosis and decompensated cirrhosis) and in healthy controls (n=40, in each group).

RESULTS

Patients with chronic hepatitis or compensated cirrhosis showed a decrease in quality of life, in spite of unimpaired neuropsychological tests. Patients with decompensated cirrhosis exhibited a further decrease in quality of life and neuropsychological abnormalities. The decrease in quality of life was associated with the severity of liver failure, neuropsychological abnormalities and treatment with beta-blockers or diuretics. However, in the multivariable analysis, only treatment with beta-blockers or diuretics (which was limited to decompensated cirrhosis) was independently associated with quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS

Hepatitis C causes a decrease in quality of life even in the absence of major cognitive impairment. The mechanisms that worsen quality of life are unknown. However, in cirrhotic outpatients with prior decompensations, treatment with beta-blockers or diuretics appears to have an important effect on quality of life.