Predictors of health-related quality of life in patients with chronic liver disease A. AFENDY*,  , J. B. KALLMAN  , M. STEPANOVA*,  , Z. YOUNOSZAI*, R. D. AQUINO  , G. BIANCHI à , G. MARCHESINI à & Z. M. YOUNOSSI*,   *Center for Liver Diseases, Inova Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church VA, USA;  Betty and Guy Beatty Center for Integrated Research, Inova Health System, Falls Church, VA, USA; àDepartment of Internal Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy Correspondence to: Dr Z. M. Younossi, Betty and Guy Beatty Center for Integrated Research, Inova Health System, 3300 Gallows Road, Falls Church, VA 22042, USA. E-mail: zobair.younossi@inova.org Publication data Submitted 17 March 2009 First decision 2 May 2009 Resubmitted 4 June 2009 Accepted 4 June 2009 Epub Accepted Article 9 June 2009 SUMMARY Background Patient-reported outcomes like health-related quality of life (HRQL) have become increasingly important for full assessment of patients with chronic liver diseases (CLD). Aim To explore the relative impact of different types of liver disease on HRQL as well as predictors of HRQL domains in CLD. Methods Our HRQL databases with Short-Form 36 (SF-36) data were used. Scores for each of SF-36 scales (PF – physical functioning, RP – role function- ing, BP – bodily pain, GH – general health, VT – vitality, SF – social functioning, RE – role emotional and MH – mental health, MCS – men- tal component score, PCS – physical component score) were compared between different types of CLD as well as other variables. Results Complete data were available for 1103 CLD patients. Demographic and clinical data included: age 54.2  12.0 years, 40% female, 761 (69%) with cirrhosis. Analysis revealed that age correlated significantly (P < 0.05) with worsening HRQL on every scale of the SF-36. Female patients had more HRQL impairments in PF, RP, BP, GH, VT and MH scales of SF-36 (D scale score: 6.6–10.7, P < 0.05). Furthermore, cir- rhotic patients had more impairment of HRQL in every scale of SF-36 (D scale score: 6.6–43.0, P < 0.05). In terms of diagnostic groups, non- alcoholic fatty liver disease patients showed more impairment of HRQL. Conclusions Analysis of this large CLD cohort suggests that a number of important clinicodemographic factors are associated with HRQL impairment. These findings contribute to the full understanding of the total impact of CLD on patients’ health. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 30, 469–476 Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics ª 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd 469 doi:10.1111/j.1365-2036.2009.04061.x