Health related quality of life in individuals at high risk of chronic liver disease: Impact of a community diagnostic pathway

OBJECTIVES: There is a lack of understanding of health related quality of life (HRQoL) in chronic liver disease (CLD). With the rising prevalence of alcohol and obesity driven CLD, and the increasing ability to screen for fibrosis, it is important to understand the impact of the diagnostic process for patients. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. METHODS: A cohort study conducted utilising the Nottingham Adult Liver Disease Stratification Pathway, UK. All patients referred as high risk for CLD (due to metabolic, alcohol or abnormal liver enzymes) completed the EQ-5D before diagnosis and at three and 12 months after. HRQoL was investigated by domain, CLD severity (transient elastography) and temporally. RESULTS: 493 patients participated with 300 (60.9%) completing at least one follow-up HRQoL assessment. Pre-diagnosis the median (IQR) utility index was 0.75 (0.61–0.85) and visual analogue scale was 75/100 (60–90). The median utility index was significantly lower amongst those with advanced liver disease compared to those without at all time points (baseline 0.68 vs 0.77, three-months 0.65 vs 0.79, 12-months 0.69 vs 0.84, all p ​< ​0.05). The majority of decrements in HRQoL score were in the pain domain. CONCLUSIONS: There was no reduction, over three or 12 months, in HRQoL identified amongst high-risk individuals progressing through the diagnostic pathway. Overall the HRQoL of participants at high risk for the development of significant CLD was lower than the UK and regional (East Midlands) norms. Furthermore, we found reduced HRQoL in those going on to receive a diagnosis of advanced liver disease compared to those without.