Autoimmune hepatitis exerts a profound, negative effect on health‐related quality of life: A prospective, single‐centre study

Background and Aims Autoimmune hepatitis is a progressive chronic liver disease. Health‐related quality of life in autoimmune hepatitis has not attracted much attention so far. We prospectively assessed various aspects of health‐related quality of life in a well characterized group of patients with autoimmune hepatitis. Methods In total, 140 patients with autoimmune hepatitis (mean age 40 ± 17 years) and 170 controls (mean age 36 ± 14 years) were included. Health‐related quality of life was evaluated with following questionnaires: The Short Form (36) Health Survey, Modified Fatigue Impact Score, State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory and Patient Health Questionnaire‐9 assessing depression. Results Patients with autoimmune hepatitis showed a significant impairment of health‐related quality of life in all, but one, domains of The Short Form (36) Health Survey. Autoimmune hepatitis was associated with pronounced physical fatigue (P