Effect of sofosbuvir plus ribavirin treatment on quality of life of chronic Hepatitis C patients and its relation to sustained viral response: A pre-post intervention study

Title : Effect of sofosbuvir plus ribavirin treatment on quality of life of chronic Hepatitis C patients and its relation to sustained viral response: A pre-post intervention study

Abstract:

Background: Hepatitis C, especially genotype 4 is highly prevalent in Egypt. It is associated with impaired quality of life (QoL). Sofosbuvir (SOF) is now the treatment of choice. The study objective is to compare the QoL score immediately and three months after SOF plus ribavirin treatment with score before treatment in chronic hepatitis C in patients with and without SVR.

Methods: This is a pre-post study carried out in the Egyptian Liver Hospital, Sherbin City, Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt. Data was collected from 38 patients before treatment and QoL scale was re-measured immediately after the end of treatment and three months after treatment during the follow-up visit. They received SOF and ribavirin for 12 weeks. They were retested by PCR for sustained virological response (SVR) three months after completed treatment. The Arabic version of the Short Form-36 (SF-36) scale was used to measure the QoL.

Results: A significant improvement was observed in the total QoLscorein late post compared to pre and early post-treatment (medians were 740 vs. 657.1 and 473.3; respectively) in patients with SVR. This significant improvement was observed in scores of all domains. There is a non-significant improvement in the total QoLscore in late post compared to pre and early post-treatment (medians were 399 vs. 597 and 749; respectively) in non-responders. However, a significant improvement was observed in scores of physical functioning and general health domains only.

Conclusions: In addition to its efficacy and safety SOF improves QoL of HCV patients with SVR.

 Keywords: Sofosbuvir, quality of life, chronic hepatitis C

Biography:

Prof. Raefa Refaat Alam is the Dean of the Faculty of Nursing at Mansoura National University, Egypt, with extensive academic, administrative, and research experience in nursing education and healthcare leadership. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing Science, a Master’s degree in Gerontological Nursing, and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Nursing from Mansoura University, Egypt. Prof. Alam is the founder of several distinguished health education and community service institutions, including the Technical Institute of Nursing, the Higher Technological Institute of Applied Health Sciences affiliated with the Liver Patients Care Association in Dakahlia, and the New College of Nursing, Al-Sadat University. She is also the founder of the El-Kheir Elderly Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the quality of life and care of older adults. Prof. Alam has actively participated in and chaired sessions at national and international conferences and workshops in the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates, delivering talks on aging, healthcare innovation, and nursing education reform. She has completed numerous training programs in leadership, research methodology, quality assurance, and higher education management, including courses from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).