Applicability of the CLDQ in the monitoring of patients with delta viral liver cirrhosis

Abstract

Introduction. The clinical burden of delta viral cirrhosis is significant in terms of health, quality of life, and economic impact on patients and society. The Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ) is an instrument that is specifically created to evaluate the health-related quality of life in individuals with chronic liver disease, but it has not been evaluated in patients with HDV. Aim of study. To evaluate the applicability of CLDQ in Moldavian individuals with delta viral liver cirrhosis. Methods and materials. We conducted a prospective study of adult patients with delta viral liver cirrhosis seen in a tertiary center Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, SCR “Timofei Mosneaga” who completed the CLDQ questionnaires. A comprehensive clinical and neuropsychological assessment was performed on all patients. Results. The CLDQ was performed in 42 patients (59.5% females, median age 55 years) on discharge. Severity of delta viral cirrhosis was divided into compensated cirrhosis (21.4%), and decompensated cirrhosis (78.6%). The CLDQ was interpreted according to six domains, all being impaired variables according to 1-7 scale, ranging from “all of the time” to “none of the time”. For a good understanding it was decided to present the results as severe impairment for 1-3 answers according to scale, 4 –moderate and 5-7 slight. The domains affected mostly were systemic symptoms- 47%, worry 42%, abdominal symptoms 40%, emotional health- 39% with severe impairment. The fatigue domain was present in a mild form in 42% patients. Most of the patients found the CLDQ clear and easy to complete. The CLDQ-HDV showed a gradient between patients with compensated/ decompensated cirrhosis. Future investigations among participants with HDV require assessing the responsiveness of the CLDQ to medical therapies and disease progression, being in process an electronic form too. Conclusion. The CLDQ is a brief questionnaire, easily understood, and acceptable to patients with delta liver cirrhosis, being linked to the severity of liver disease with a role in differentiating it. of life, and economic impact on patients and society. The Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ) is an instrument that is specifically created to eva luate the health-related quality of life in individuals with chronic liver disease, but it has not bee n evaluated in patients with HDV. Aim of study. To evaluate the applicability of CLDQ in Moldavian indiv iduals with delta viral liver cirrhosis. Methods and materials. We conducted a prospective study of adult patients with delta viral liver cirrhosis seen in a tertiary center Department of Gast roenterology & Hepatology, SCR “Timofei Mosneaga” who completed the CLDQ questionnaires. A comprehensive clini cal and neuropsychological assessment was performed on all patie nts. Results. The CLDQ was performed in 42 patients (59.5% females, media n age 55 years) on discharge. Severity of delta viral cirrhosis was divided i nto compensated cirrhosis (21.4%), and decompensated cirrhosis (78.6%). The CLDQ was interpreted accor ding to six domains, all being impaired variables according to 1-7 scale, ranging from “all of the time” to “none of the time”. For a good understanding it was decided to present the results as severe impairment for 1-3 answers according to scale, 4 –moderate and 5-7 slight. The domains af fected mostly were systemic symptoms- 47%, worry 42%, abdominal symptoms 40%, emotional heal th- 39% with severe impairment. The fatigue domain was present in a mild form i n 42% patients. Most of the patients found the CLDQ clear and easy to complete. The CLDQ-HDV s howed a gradient between patients with compensated/ decompensated cirrhosis. Future investigation s among participants with HDV require assessing the responsiveness of the CLDQ to medica l therapies and disease progression, being in process an electronic form too. Conclusion. The CLDQ is a brief questionnaire, easily understood, and acceptable to patients with delta liver cirrhosis, being linked to the severity of liver disease with a role in differentiating it.