| Summary: | Introduction. Hepatitis C virus often causes chronic liver disease reducing physical, mental and social functions in these patients. Objective. The aim of this investigation was analysis of the quality of life in chronic hepatitis C patients compared to patients with other chronic liver diseases and healthy population, as well as investigation of the influence of socio-demographic factors on the quality of life in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Methods. A generic Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire and Chronic Liver Diseases Questionnaire (CLDQ) were used in this prospective study for the investigation of the quality of life in 160 patients (100 patients with chronic hepatitis C, 30 patients with chronic hepatitis B, 30 patients with non-viral chronic liver diseases) and 50 healthy controls. Results. Reduced quality of life was noted in patients with chronic hepatitis C patients in comparison with healthy controls (p=0.00). Significant differences in SF-36 were found between patients with chronic hepatitis C and B regarding physical functions, activity, physical pain and emotional functions. Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed ages below 50 years as the most important positive variable in chronic hepatitis C patients for total score of the quality of life and physical component score (B=14.5; SE=5.16; p=0.049; and B=16.4; SE=5.94; p=0.003, respectively). The most important positive variable for the mental component of the quality of life was male gender (B=15.3; SE=5.81; p=0.003). Conclusion. Quality of life is reduced in patients with chronic hepatitis C in comparison with healthy population. The quality of life in chronic hepatitis C patients is better than in patients with other non-viral chronic liver diseases. In comparison with patients with chronic hepatitis B, reduction in some domains of the quality of life is noted. Younger age is the most predictable group for the lowest damage of the total quality of life in patients with chronic hepatitis C patients among other socio- demographic characteristics of these patients.
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