DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2020.v08i07.020

Pages: 1746-1754

Background: An association between hepatitis C virus infection and neuropsychiatric symptoms has been proposed for some years. These symptoms include affective & behavioral components that are sometimes not easily distinguished from each other. Chronic infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) has a profound effect on health-related quality of life- with fatigue, depression and neurocognitive deficits among the most common complaints. Aim: To study of Quality of life and cognitive impairment in Hepatitis C positive patients receiving Interferon Therapy. Material and methods: The clinical study was conducted on 60 patients with chronic Hepatitis C infection. The patients were drawn from Gastroenterology Deptt. (OPD & indoor) and patients referred to Psychiatry Department for assessment. There were divided into two groups (A & B). Group A included cases who were hepatitis C +ve and were on Interferon therapy Group B included controls who were Hepatitis C +ve and not on Interferon therapy. Cognitive assessment and QOL was assessed by using socio demographic profile, cognitive functioning scale and quality of life questionnaire. Results: In hepatitis C patients on Peg- IFN therapy (Group A) , cognitive functioning was highly significantly impaired from baseline to 12 weeks as compared to patients not on Peg -IFN therapy (Group B) (P =0.001). Also , in Group A , there was highly significant worsening in physical as well as psychological component of QOL questionnaire from baseline to 12 weeks as compared to Group B ( P = 0.000). Conclusions: There is a significant impairment in cognitive functions and quality of life in Hepatitis C patients on Peg-interferon therapy.