OBJECTIVES: Primary analysis of REPEAT study showed that 72 weeks treatment with PegIFN-alfa2a/ribavirin was more effective than 48 weeks in chronic hepatitis C patients non-responders to previous PegIFN-alfa2b/ribavirin. The aim of this prospectively planned secondary analysis was to assess patient reported outcomes (PRO) of re-treatment with PegIFN-alfa2a/ribavirin versus previous treatment with PegIFN-alfa2b/ribavirin in Spain. METHODS: In REPEAT, 950 non-responders to PegIFN-alfa2b were randomized to PegIFN-alfa2a 360µg/week for 12 weeks, then 180µg/week for a further 60 or 36 weeks (Arms A or B, respectively), or PegIFN-alfa2a 180µg/week for 72 or 48 weeks (Arms C or D, respectively); all patients received ribavirin 1000-1200mg/day. In this sub-analysis, 100 Spanish patients from 10 centres (Arms A: n=40; B: n=19; C: n=11; D: n=30) were administered a two-part questionnaire: part one was completed at baseline (questions on previous PegIFN-alfa2b/ribavirin therapy) and part two was completed at end of treatment (questions on recent PegIFN-alfa2a/ribavirin therapy). The questionnaire included 15 items concerning patient perception of viral load, tolerability of treatment, health status, management of devices as well as side effects and problems experienced specifically to one treatment. RESULTS: At baseline, 16% patients reported feeling good/excellent, 43% fair and 41% poor while receiving PegIFN-alfa2b/ribavirin versus 30%, 49% and 20%, respectively, at end of re-treatment. Significantly more patients perceived PegIFN-alfa2a/ribavirin to be associated with better/much better effects on viral load, tolerance, health status and handling of devices versus PegIFN-alfa2b/ribavirin. Problems exclusive to PegIFN-alfa2b/ribavirin were reported in 33% of patients while 17% reported new problems with PegIFN-alfa2a/ribavirin. With either treatment, >96% of patients reported side effects. Patient-reported tolerance to PegIFN-alfa2a/ribavirin was similar in all treatment arms, irrespective of dose (p=0.069). CONCLUSIONS: Re-treatment with PegIFN-alfa2a/ribavirin in Spanish patients improved assessed patient reported outcomes versus previous treatment with PegIFN-alfa2b/ribavirin. Patients reported good tolerance even in 72 weeks re-treatment.