Anti-HCV treatments are moving away from interferon-alpha towards DAAs, associated with fewer side effects, better tolerability, and better PROs.

To describe neuropsychiatric symptoms and PROs during DAAs treatment in a group of HCV+ patients.

Forty outpatients, scheduled for DAAs treatment, were assessed at enrolment (T0), 4 weeks (T1), at the end of treatment (EOT) and after 12 weeks of follow up (F-UP), by means of MDRS, HAM-D, HAM-A, MRS, Y-BOCS and SF-36. Afterwards the sample was divided into two groups as a function of a positive psychiatric history (19) and compared with each other.

Total sample mean scores between W0 and F-UP were compared and an improving trend was observed in all administered scales. An SF-36 items analysis showed a statistically significant difference in emotional role functioning between W0 vs EOT and EOT vs F-UP, in change in overall health status between W0 vs EOT and W0 vs F-UP.A multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that a positive psychiatric history was not associated with an improvement in vitality of 4.3 (minimal clinically important difference). Comparing the two groups, no significant fluctuations in SF-36 scores were founded and major deviations score increases were recorded in patients with a psychiatric history in all scales.

Our real world data shows that new regimens do not seem to be associated with psychiatric side effects and conversely a clinical improvement compared to baseline was found, suggesting an immediate gain in PROs over the treatment period, particularly the psychiatric subgroup.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.