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document
Changes in quality of life and sexual health are associated with low-dose peginterferon therapy and disease progression in patients with chronic hepatitis C. BACKGROUND Primary analysis of the Hepatitis C Antiviral Long-Term Treatment against Cirrhosis ( HALT-C ) Trial showed long-term peginterferon therapy did not reduce complications in patients with chronic hepatitis C and advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis . AIM To assess the effects of long-term peginterferon therapy and disease progression on health-related quality of life ( HRQOL ) , symptoms and sexual health in HALT-C patients . METHODS A total of 517 HALT-C patients received peginterferon alfa-2a ( 90 microg/week ) ; 532 received no additional treatment for 3.5 years . Patients were followed up for outcomes of death , hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatic decompensation . Sexual health , SF-36 scores and symptoms were serially assessed by repeated-measures analyses of covariance . RESULTS Patients with cirrhosis ( n = 427 ) reported lower general well-being and more fatigue ( P < 0.001 ) than patients with fibrosis ( n = 622 ) . Physical scores declined significantly over time , independent of treatment , and patients with cirrhosis reported lower scores . Vitality scores were lower in those with cirrhosis , and treated patients experienced a greater decline over time than untreated patients ; HRQOL rebounded after treatment ended . Patients with a clinical outcome had significantly greater declines in all SF-36 and symptom scores . Among men , Sexual Health scores were significantly worse in treated patients and in those with a clinical outcome . CONCLUSION Clinical progression of chronic hepatitis C and maintenance peginterferon therapy led to worsening of symptoms , HRQOL and , in men , sexual health in a large patient cohort followed up over 4 years ( NCT00006164 ) .
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Intervention_Pharmacological
peginterferon therapy
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Intervention_Pharmacological
peginterferon therapy
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Intervention_Pharmacological
peginterferon therapy
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Intervention_Pharmacological
peginterferon alfa-2a
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Intervention_Control
no additional treatment
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Intervention_Pharmacological
peginterferon therapy
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Outcome_Other
quality of life
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Outcome_Physical
sexual health
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Outcome_Mortality
death
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Outcome_Physical
hepatocellular carcinoma
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Outcome_Physical
hepatic decompensation
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Outcome_Physical
Sexual health
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Outcome_Physical
SF-36 scores
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Outcome_Physical
general well-being
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Outcome_Physical
fatigue
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Outcome_Physical
Physical scores
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Outcome_Physical
Vitality scores
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Outcome_Physical
SF-36
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Outcome_Physical
Sexual Health scores
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Outcome_Physical
symptoms
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Outcome_Physical
HRQOL
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Outcome_Physical
sexual health
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Participant_Condition
chronic hepatitis C.
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Participant_Condition
Hepatitis C
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Participant_Condition
Cirrhosis
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Participant_Condition
HALT-C
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Participant_Condition
chronic hepatitis C
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Participant_Condition
advanced fibrosis
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Participant_Condition
cirrhosis
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Participant_Sample-size
517
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Participant_Condition
HALT-C
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Participant_Sample-size
532
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Participant_Condition
cirrhosis
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Participant_Condition
fibrosis
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Participant_Sample-size
men