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 the Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ) for the assessment of HRQoL. All registered HCV patients attending different hospitals in Quetta, Pakistan, were approached for study. Descriptive statistics were used to describe demographic and disease related characteristics of the patients. All analyses were performed using SPSS v 20. Two hundred and ten HCV patients were enrolled in the study.

RESULTS: Majority of the participants (49,23.3%) were categorized in age group of 21-30 years. The mean HRQoL scores were lower i.e. Overall; 3.27±1.32, activity & energy 3.14±1.32, emotions 3.20±1.37, worries 3.73±1.47 and systems 2.93±1.36. Demographic Characteristics like; age, marital status, level of Education, occupation, time since diagnosis and presence of prognosis were the predictor of HRQoL

CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed that the HCV negatively impact the HRQoL patients, progression in disease worsen the HRQoL in the patients therefore it is recommended that proper care and treatment of patients should be done to prevent prognosis that improve the HRQoL of the patients