The Association of Quality of Life, Functioning, and Coping with Continuing Versus Ceasing Alcohol Use Among HCV Patients

Background and Purpose: The biological sequelae of alcohol use on the liver and HCV treatment ineligibility associated with alcohol use have been well-established, but there are limited data on the consequences of active alcohol use on quality of life, functioning, and coping in HCV patients. The purpose of this study was to compare quality of life, functioning, and coping among HCV patients who continued versus ceased alcohol use in the last year.

Methods: HCV patients preparing for HCV treatment who reported alcohol use more than a year ago (n=291) were recruited from 3 liver and infectious disease clinics. Measures of central tendency and frequency distributions were used to characterize the sample. Numerical variables were compared between active and former alcohol users using Student’s t-tests, substituting Satterthwaite comparisons in cases of unequal variances. A Bonferroni correction was used to adjust for multiple comparisons.

Results: Compared to HCV patients who ceased alcohol use in the last year, HCV patients who continued to use alcohol self-reported lower ratings on home life (7.0±2.9 vs. 5.9±3.1, p=0.005), personal leisure (6.5±2.8 vs. 5.4±3.5, p=0.007), and overall quality of life (6.1±2.3 vs. 5.2±2.6, p=0.006); and HCV patients who continued to use alcohol self-reported lower ratings on home life (4.2±3.7 vs. 2.9±3.4, p=0.005), close relationships (4.4±4.0 vs. 2.8±3.5, p=0.002), sex life (5.5±4.2 vs. 3.3±3.8, p=0.000) and overall functioning (4.4±3.3 vs. 3.1±3.0, p=0.002). The two groups did not differ on coping.

Discussion: In clinical practice, most clinicians advise HCV patients to avoid alcohol completely because of its adverse biological effects on the liver. Despite this important advice by their clinicians, most HCV patients continue to use alcohol. Clinicians can additionally consider advising these patients that continued alcohol use is associated with lower quality of life and functioning as further evidence to convince these patients to avoid alcohol or to participate in alcohol cessation treatment.