Role of Sleep Disturbance in Chronic Hepatitis C Infection

✍ Scribed by Meghan D. Carlson; Robin C. Hilsabeck; Fatma Barakat; William Perry

• Book ID: 107540517
• Publisher: Current Science Inc.
• Year: 2010
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 116 KB
• Volume: 9
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1540-3416
• DOI: 10.1007/s11901-010-0030-x

✦ Synopsis

Chronic infection with the hepatitis C virus (CHC) is associated with physical and mental symptoms including fatigue and depression that adversely affect quality of life. A related complaint, sleep disturbance, has received little attention in the literature, with the exception of sleep changes noted in cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease. We present an overview of studies indicating sleep problems in patients with CHC, with about 60% to 65% of individuals reporting such complaints. Evidence suggests that impairments in sleep quality exist independent of antiviral therapy with interferon-α and prior to advanced stages of liver disease. Further investigation of sleep disturbance in CHC patients with a mild stage of liver disease may provide important information on disease course as well as allow additional opportunities for patient support.