A Prospective Observational Study on the Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Liver Disease

Abstract

Background: Chronic liver disease can have a profound negative impact on patients’ health related quality of life and well-being. The QOL of CLD patients was assessed using the World Health Organization quality of life-BREF questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF) and short form (SF-36) questionnaire. The severity of the disease was assessed using Child-Pugh score and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score. Chronic liver disease significantly impacts patients' quality of life, affecting physical, psychological, and social well-being. Understanding these impacts is crucial for developing effective management strategies to improve patient outcomes.

Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the quality of life of the patients with chronic liver disease.

Method: A prospective observational study was carried out in a 450 bedded tertiary care hospital by collecting data from patient case sheet and patient medication interview. The study subject involves 120 patients in general medicine, surgery departments with chronic liver disease.

Result:  The quality of life in the patients with CLD were studied in 120 participants and found that 79% were males and 21% were females. Among the participants, 28% fell into the age group of 41-50. Notably, 60% of the population had a history of alcoholism. In SF-36 questionnaire, physical role (37.7%) was the lowest domain and physical health (39.6%) was found to lowest in WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. The severity and prognosis of CLD and cirrhosis were evaluated using the Child Pugh score, with 8.3% classified as class C (high mortality) and 49.1% as class A (low mortality). Based on MELD scores, 3.3% of patients had scores between 30-39, indicating a higher need for liver transplantation, while 32.5% had scores of 9 or less, suggesting a lower need for transplantation. In addition to this a comparison study of different domains of SF-36 with Child Pugh score and MELD score revealed significant associations in domains such as physical functioning, pain, vitality, emotional role, and general health. Demographic variables showed a positive association with Child Pugh score and MELD score.

Conclusion: Chronic Liver Disease (CLD) is a progressive decline in liver function that significantly impacts an individual's quality of life. CLD has a profound effect on the overall well-being of patients, resulting in a lower quality of life compared to those without the disease. Chronic liver disease profoundly affects patients' quality of life, with disease severity, psychological well-being, and social support being pivotal factors. Multidisciplinary approaches that address both the medical and psychosocial aspects of CLD are essential for improving QoL in these patients. Further research should focus on developing and implementing targeted interventions to enhance the overall well-being of individuals with chronic liver disease.