Increased hope following successful treatment for hepatitis C infection

Abstract

Aims: To evaluate hope in hepatitis C patients 9 years after curative treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin.

Background: Successful treatment of hepatitis C leads to improved quality of life in responders compared with non-responders. The long-term effect of successful treatment on hope in these patients is not known.

Design: Cross-sectional follow-up study of patients who displayed a sustained virological response to previous hepatitis C treatment.

Methods: Patients infected with hepatitis C genotype 2 or 3 from a randomized controlled study during 2004-2006 were included. A representative subgroup of those who achieved a sustained virological response was re-evaluated in 2012-2014. The patients were examined, had a blood test and completed a questionnaire (Herth Hope Index and demographic and clinical characteristics). The hope level was compared between patients and an age-matched sample from the general population (N = 1,481). The data were analysed using multiple regression.

Results: A total of 104 Norwegian and Swedish hepatitis C patients were included in this follow-up study; their mean age was 48 years, and 61% were men. Patients treated for hepatitis C scored higher than the general population on the total Herth Hope Index and for 11 of the 12 individual items. Age, gender, educational level, employment status and civil status were associated with a higher Herth Hope Index in those who had received hepatitis C treatment.

Conclusion: Patients achieving a sustained viral response had a higher hope level than the general population 9 years after successful treatment of hepatitis C virus infection.

Keywords: Herth Hope Index; depression; employment; fatigue; health-related quality of life; hepatitis C; hope; injecting drug use; nursing care; stigma.