Background: Chronic Hepatitis B (CHB) is a serious global healthcare burden with more than 257 million people infected worldwide. Patients of CHB gradually develop derangement in their physical and mental health with the chronicity of the disease. Unani medicine provides a holistic herbal treatment worthiest in the scenario of treatment strategy for chronic viral diseases with deranged quality of life. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Unani drugs on deranged quality of life in patients of CHB. Methods: In a pilot clinical trial, 30 patients of chronic Hepatitis B were evaluated for the improvement in their Quality of Life (QoL) after subjected to treatment with decoction of Saussurea lappa and Artemisia absinthium. Enrolled study subjects received treatment for 90 days and were assessed for QoL with a booklet of the instruments [EQ5D (EuroQol 5D-3L), HQLQ™ (Hepatitis quality of life questionnaire) and physical symptoms] at baseline, 7th, 45th and 90th day. Results: Significant improvement was observed on EQ5D, HQLQTM and physical symptoms. Conclusion: Decoction of Saussurea lappa and Artemisia absinthium improved quality of life in the patients of chronic Hepatitis B. Further studies should be conducted to evaluate their effectiveness in improving quality of life in Hepatitis B induced cirrhosis of liver and hepatocellular carcinoma patients.
Key words: Chronic Hepatitis B, Quality of life, EQ5D, HQLQ, Unani medicine, Saussurea, Artemisia.
