OBJECTIVES: The study aims to access the Health Related Quality Of Life (HRQoL) among hepatitis C (HCV) patients and to identify significant predictors of the HRQoL in HCV patients of Quetta, Pakistan.

METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted by adopting European Quality of Life scale (EQ-5D) questionnaire was used to assessment of HRQoL. All registered HCV patients attending two public hospitals in Quetta, Pakistan were approached for study. Descriptive statistics were used to describe demographic and disease related characteristics of the patients. HRQoL was scored using values adapted from the United Kingdom general population survey. EQ-5D scale scores were compared with Mann–Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis test. All analyses were performed using SPSS v 20.

RESULTS: Three hundred and one HCV patients were enrolled in the study. Majority of the participants (n=181,60.1%) were categorized in age group of 21-30 years, for majority (n=96, 31.9%) the time since diagnosis were between 6 months to 1 year, whereas majority of the patients (n=243, 80.7%) did not have any complications, most of the patients (n=168, 54.2%) were using their medication The mean EQ-5D score was 0.312 ±0.468 and VAS score was 56.05(17.5). The non-parametric analysis revealed age group, presence of complication of disease and use of medicine were significantly associated with mean HRQoL Scores.

CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed that the HCV negatively impact the HRQoL patients, progression in disease worsen the HRQoL and patients using medication were having better HRQoL, therefore it is recommended that proper care and treatment of patients should be done to improve the HRQoL of the Hepatitis-C patients.