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Quality of Life in Liver Cirrhosis

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Handbook of Disease Burdens and Quality of Life Measures

Abstract:

Liver cirrhosis is a chronic condition imposing a considerable burden on patients, families, health care, and society. Assessment of health-related quality of life (QOL) is particularly important for these patients in view of the paucity of therapies substantially improving their survival except for liver transplantation. To date several investigators employing numerous generic and disease-specific QOL measurement instruments have reported poor QOL in these patients irrespective of the etiology of liver disease. Apart from the severity and complications of liver cirrhosis several disease-specific symptoms (such as pruritus, muscle cramps, sleep disturbance, sexual dysfunction, fatigue, and gastrointestinal symptoms) have been shown to be of importance in determining QOL in this patient group. Liver transplantation has been repeatedly shown to improve QOL. However, some of the few studies evaluating the impact of other medical interventions on QOL in cirrhotics have demonstrated that various treatment modalities may improve survival or decrease complication risk but they do not invariably improve patients’ QOL which stresses the need for rigorous selection of patients suitable for a specific type of treatment. Last, the value cirrhotic patients place on the state of their health differs from that assigned by physicians. Thus, in cost-utility analysis, which is based on quality-adjusted life years, utilities should be based on patient reports.

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Abbreviations

AUSQUAL:

Austin quality of life scale

BDI:

Beck depression inventory

BSI:

brief symptom inventory

CC:

compensated cirrhosis

CLDQ:

chronic liver disease questionnaire

CLD-QOL:

chronic liver disease quality of life questionnaire

DC:

decompensated cirrhosis

GSRS:

gastrointestinal symptom rating scale

HAD:

hospital anxiety and depression index

LDQOL:

liver disease quality of life instrument

LDSI:

liver disease symptom index

LTX:

liver transplantation

MELD:

model for end-stage liver disease

MFI-20:

multidimensional fatigue index – 20

NC:

non-cirrhotic control patients

NHP:

Nottingham health profile

PGWBI:

psychological general well-being index

QOL:

quality of life

SF-36:

36-item short form health survey

SIP:

sickness impact profile

TIPS:

transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden

    E. Kalaitzakis

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  1. E. Kalaitzakis
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Nutrition and Dietetics Nutritional Sciences Research Division School of Biomedical & Health Sciences, King's College London, Franklin‐Wilkins Building 150 Stamford Street, SE1 9NH, London, UK

    Victor R. Preedy (Prof.) (Prof.)

  2. Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Health Science Center 1295 N. Martin, P.O. Box 245155, 85724-5155, Tucson, AZ

    Ronald R. Watson (Prof.) (Prof.)

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Kalaitzakis, E. (2010). Quality of Life in Liver Cirrhosis. In: Preedy, V.R., Watson, R.R. (eds) Handbook of Disease Burdens and Quality of Life Measures. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-78665-0_131

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-78665-0_131

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-78664-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-78665-0

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