The relationship between health-related quality of life and demographic characteristics in patients with chronic hepatitis B

Abstract

Introduction: The evaluation of health-related quality of life at specific intervals in chronic hepatitis B patients is important in terms of producing interventions aimed at raising quality of life. Aim: The purpose of this study was to measure health-related quality of life in CHB patients and to evaluate its association with demographic characteristics. Material and Method: The study was conducted with CHB patients presenting to the infectious diseases clinic between 01 January and 15 March, 2020. Date were collected demographic characteristics, and with the short form-36 (SF-36). Results: Two hundred fourteen patients diagnosed with CHB and receiving nucleos(t)ide therapy were included in the study. Patients’ mean age was 41.9±12.9 years, 60.7% (n=130) were men, 83.6% were married, and 44.9% were educated to middle school level. Mean scores on all subscales were higher among men. Patients’ SF-36 subscale scores differed significantly in terms of education. Unmarried individuals registered higher mean scales on the SF-36 subscales compared to married participants. The score distributions of housewives and clerical workers differed significantly on the physical functioning (PF), social functioning (SF), and physical role limitation (PRL) subscales (p<0.001, p=0.004, and p=0.003, respectively). Patients’ mental health subscale scores were significantly differently distributed depending on smoking status (p=0.015). PF, PRL, social role limitation, and energy/fatigue subscale scores differed significantly between participants living in urban areas and those from outlying districts or villages (p<0.01). Conclusion: It is of great importance for patients’ demographic characteristics to be evaluated during follow-up and for appropriate clinical support to be provided when required.

Keywords

• Chronic Hepatitis B
• quality of life
• demographic characteristics

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