• A Afendy, J B Kallman, M Stepanova, Z Younoszai, R D Aquino, G Bianchi, G Marchesini, and Z M Younossi.
• Center for Liver Diseases, Inova Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church, VA, USA.
• Aliment. Pharmacol. Ther. 2009 Sep 1; 30 (5): 469-76.

BackgroundPatient-reported outcomes like health-related quality of life (HRQL) have become increasingly important for full assessment of patients with chronic liver diseases (CLD).AimTo explore the relative impact of different types of liver disease on HRQL as well as predictors of HRQL domains in CLD.MethodsOur HRQL databases with Short-Form 36 (SF-36) data were used. Scores for each of SF-36 scales (PF - physical functioning, RP - role functioning, BP - bodily pain, GH - general health, VT - vitality, SF - social functioning, RE - role emotional and MH - mental health, MCS - mental component score, PCS - physical component score) were compared between different types of CLD as well as other variables.ResultsComplete data were available for 1103 CLD patients. Demographic and clinical data included: age 54.2 +/- 12.0 years, 40% female, 761 (69%) with cirrhosis. Analysis revealed that age correlated significantly (P < 0.05) with worsening HRQL on every scale of the SF-36. Female patients had more HRQL impairments in PF, RP, BP, GH, VT and MH scales of SF-36 (Delta scale score: 6.6-10.7, P < 0.05). Furthermore, cirrhotic patients had more impairment of HRQL in every scale of SF-36 (Delta scale score: 6.6-43.0, P < 0.05). In terms of diagnostic groups, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients showed more impairment of HRQL.ConclusionsAnalysis of this large CLD cohort suggests that a number of important clinicodemographic factors are associated with HRQL impairment. These findings contribute to the full understanding of the total impact of CLD on patients' health.

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