16393
document
Comparison of quality of life , work productivity and medical resource utilization of peginterferon alpha 2a vs the combination of interferon alpha 2b plus ribavirin as initial treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C. The on-treatment impact of interferon-based therapies on quality of life ( QOL ) , work productivity , and medical resource utilization has not been systematically studied . We evaluated the effects of treatment with peginterferon alpha ( pegIFNalpha ) 2a monotherapy and the combination of interferon alpha ( IFNalpha ) 2b plus ribavirin ( RBV ) on health-related QOL , work productivity and resource utilization . A total of 412 patients with hepatitis C infection were randomized to open-label treatment with either pegIFNalpha 2a ( n = 206 ) or IFNalpha 2b/RBV ( n = 206 ) . PegIFNalpha 2a was administered subcutaneously at a dose of 180 microg once weekly for 48 weeks ; and IFNalpha 2b/RBV at doses of 3 MU thrice weekly subcutaneously and 1000-1200 mg/day orally . Outcome measures included the SF-36 Health Survey Questionnaire and additional generic and specific scales . During treatment , for all SF-36 summary and Hepatitis Quality of Life Questionnaire ( HQLQ ) -specific scales , the pegIFNalpha 2a group experienced less impairment than did the IFNalpha 2b/RBV patients . The between-treatment differences were significant for many of the scores particularly in the first 24 weeks of treatment . Across all measures of work functioning and productivity at each visit , patients randomized to pegIFNalpha 2a treatment showed less impairment relative to the group treated with IFNalpha 2b/RBV . Hence treatment with pegIFNalpha 2a relative to IFNalpha 2b/RBV minimizes the adverse impact of therapy on health-related QOL . Patients randomized to pegIFNalpha 2a had improved work productivity , less activity impairment , decreased need for prescription drugs to treat adverse effects , and better adherence to therapy .
16394
Intervention_Pharmacological
peginterferon alpha 2a
16395
Intervention_Pharmacological
interferon alpha 2b plus ribavirin
16396
Intervention_Pharmacological
peginterferon alpha ( pegIFNalpha )
16397
Intervention_Physical
monotherapy
16398
Intervention_Pharmacological
combination of interferon alpha ( IFNalpha ) 2b plus ribavirin ( RBV )
16399
Intervention_Pharmacological
open-label treatment with either pegIFNalpha 2a ( n = 206 )
16400
Intervention_Pharmacological
IFNalpha 2b/RBV ( n = 206 )
16401
Intervention_Pharmacological
PegIFNalpha 2a
16402
Intervention_Pharmacological
IFNalpha 2b/RBV
16403
Intervention_Pharmacological
pegIFNalpha 2a
16404
Intervention_Pharmacological
IFNalpha 2b/RBV
16405
Intervention_Pharmacological
pegIFNalpha 2a
16406
Intervention_Pharmacological
IFNalpha 2b/RBV
16407
Intervention_Pharmacological
pegIFNalpha 2a
16408
Intervention_Pharmacological
IFNalpha 2b/RBV
16409
Intervention_Pharmacological
pegIFNalpha 2a
16410
Outcome_Other
quality of life
16411
Outcome_Other
work productivity
16412
Outcome_Other
medical resource utilization
16413
Outcome_Other
quality of life ( QOL )
16414
Outcome_Other
work productivity
16415
Outcome_Other
medical resource utilization
16416
Outcome_Physical
health-related QOL
16417
Outcome_Other
work productivity
16418
Outcome_Other
resource utilization
16419
Outcome_Physical
SF-36 Health Survey Questionnaire and additional generic and specific scales
16420
Outcome_Other
Hepatitis Quality of Life Questionnaire ( HQLQ ) -specific scales
16421
Outcome_Other
health-related QOL
16422
Outcome_Other
work productivity
16423
Outcome_Other
less activity impairment
16424
Outcome_Other
decreased need for prescription drugs
16425
Outcome_Adverse-effects
adverse effects
16426
Outcome_Mental
better adherence to therapy
16427
Participant_Sample-size
412
16428
Participant_Condition
hepatitis C infection