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.