Impact of Treatment Attributes of Peginterferon for Hepatitis C on Quality of Life and Treatment Preference

Objectives

A key aim of hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment development is to maximize efficacy while minimizing adverse events that impact on patient health-related quality of life (HRQL) and adherence, a significant issue for HCV treatment efficacy. In order to inform treatment development priorities, this study aimed to capture HRQL impact of flu-like symptoms experienced after peginterferon treatment injections and capture the value to patients of less frequent treatment injections.

Study Design

An online survey was conducted with 72 patients who were receiving peginterferon treatment. The survey comprised: patient experience of flu-like symptoms as a result of peginterferon treatment injections; utility values for impact of these symptoms on HRQL; patient preferences for treatment attributes of injection frequency, days experiencing flu-like symptoms and efficacy.

Results

Over 90% of participants had experienced flu-like symptoms after a peginterferon treatment injection. Mean HRQL for HCV patients with no flu-like symptoms was 0.73, while mean HRQL for HCV patients with current flu-like symptoms was 0.43. Increase in frequency of treatment injections per 4 weeks (odds ratio [OR] 0.57, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.52-0.63, P < 0.001), days per month of experiencing flu-like symptoms (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.69-0.76, P < 0.001), and percentage treatment efficacy (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.05-1.06, P < 0.001) were all independent predictors of patient treatment preferences.

Conclusion

Flu-like symptoms experienced as a result of peginterferon treatment injections have a substantial HRQL impact for patients. This study demonstrates how important avoiding flu-like symptoms and reducing treatment injections are for patients in addition to treatment efficacy.