The impact of chronic hepatitis C on health-related quality of life in homeless and marginally housed individuals with HIV

AIDS Behav. 2007 Jul;11(4):603-10. doi: 10.1007/s10461-006-9157-8.

Abstract

Although infection with Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) frequently co-exist, there has been little research to determine the effects of HIV/HCV co-infection on health-related quality of life (HRQOL). We performed a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from 216 participants enrolled in a community based study of HIV-infected homeless and marginally housed individuals, using multivariable linear regression analysis to determine if co-infection with HCV was independently associated with lower short-form 36 (SF-36) questionnaire scores. We found that individuals with HCV had significantly lower mean SF-36 scores in the domains of physical functioning, bodily pain, social functioning and role limitation due to emotional health, and that HIV/HCV co-infection was independently associated with a lower physical component score but not a lower mental component score after controlling for numerous covariates. These results suggest that co-infection with HCV may have an adverse effect on HRQOL among homeless and marginally housed individuals with HIV.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / complications*
  • Hepacivirus / physiology
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / complications*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / diagnosis*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / epidemiology
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / virology
  • Humans
  • Ill-Housed Persons*
  • Male
  • Prevalence
  • Quality of Life*
  • Sickness Impact Profile
  • Viral Load