Aim: Despite effective treatment for recent hepatitis C (HCV) infection, side-effects and adherence concerns limit its use among people who inject drugs (PWID). This study evaluated health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and social functioning following infection and during recent HCV treatment. Methods: The Australian Trial of Acute Hepatitis C studied the natural history and treatment of recent HCV infection. HRQoL (SF-12v2) and social functioning (Opiate Treatment Index score) were measured over 48 weeks and their impact on treatment uptake, adherence and virological response were assessed. Results: Of 163 participants, 111 received treatment (HCV n = 74, SVR 55%; HCV/HIV n = 37, SVR 74%). 116 (71%) were male, 124 (76%) ever injected drugs, with 55 (36%) injecting recently and 28/55 (51%) reported needle/syringe sharing. At baseline, median physical and mental HRQoL was 54 units (IQR 46-58) and 46 (35-54) (reference median: 50), respectively, and median social functioning score was 11 units (7-17). Higher social function (<10 vs ≥15) predicted increased treatment uptake (AOR 3.43, 95%CI 1.01-11.6, p = 0.048) and higher SVR (AOR 5.11, 95%CI 1.30-20.15, p = 0.020). After adjustment, treated participants had lower physical (-4.90 units, 95%CI -6.33 to -3.48, p<0.001) and mental HRQoL (-3.7 units, 95%CI -5.55 to -1.86, p<0.001) at on-treatment visits, but HRQoL returned to baseline levels during follow-up. Conclusions: Social functioning can predict recent HCV treatment uptake and SVR. Efforts to maximise social stability may improve treatment response. Pegylated-interferon treatment is associated with reduced HRQoL on-treatment in an already vulnerable population of PWID that would be better served by interferon-free regimens particularly in treated target at PWID to prevent transmission.The ATAHC Study was funded by the
National Institutes of Health (grant RO1 DA 15999-
01). Roche Pharmaceuticals supplied financial
support for pegylated-IFN alfa-2a/ribavirin use in the
ATAHC Study. JD, JG, GM, AT, GD, and MH
acknowledge fellowship support from the National
Health and Medical Research Council. JD, TS and
MH acknowledge the contribution to this work of the
Victorian Operational Infrastructure Support Program
(Department of Health, Victoria, Australia) to the
Burnet Institute. The Kirby Institute is funded by the
Australian Government Department of Health and
Ageing. The views expressed in this publication do
not necessarily represent the position of the
Australian Governmen
