Determinants of Health-Related Quality of Life in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients: A Study from SPHMMC, Ethiopia

Background Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has emerged as an important consideration in the care of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). There is limited evidence on HRQoL among CHB patients in Ethiopia, particularly in the study area. This study aimed to assess HRQoL and associated factors among patients with chronic hepatitis B in SPHMMC. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2023 to September 2023 among patients with chronic hepatitis B in SPHMMC. The study participants were selected using a systematic random sampling technique. Two physicians collected data from patient interviews and chart reviews using a checklist. Data were entered into Epi-Data and exported to SPSS version 26 for analysis. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were conducted. Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression was used to assess associations between dependent and independent variables using adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). A P-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Among the 190 patients with chronic hepatitis B, nearly two-thirds (126; 66.3% [95% CI: 61.1, 72.7]) had high HRQoL. The overall mean HRQoL score was 75.27 ± 20.62. The mean scores for the physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) were 77.50 ± 24.84 and 76.05 ± 17.29, respectively, showing minimal difference. Factors significantly associated with HRQoL included being currently married (AOR: 4.48, 95% CI: 1.56, 12.82), having a family size of 3–4 members (AOR: 3.67, 95% CI: 1.64, 8.23), presence of cirrhosis with portal hypertension (AOR: 0.173, 95% CI: 0.043, 0.692), and being older than 60 years (AOR: 0.19, 95% CI: 0.04, 0.85). No statistically significant difference in HRQoL was observed between cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic patients based on t -scores. Conclusion and Recommendation: HRQoL was significantly affected in unmarried individuals, those with larger family sizes, patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension, and older adults. Early diagnosis and timely initiation of treatment are crucial for improving HRQoL among patients with chronic hepatitis B. Special attention should be given to unmarried individuals, those with larger family sizes, older adults, and patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension to enhance their quality of life.