Impact of suppressive antiviral therapy on the health related quality of life of patients with recurrent genital herpes infection

Objective: To investigate whether suppressive antiviral therapy improves he alth related quality of life in patients with recurrent genital herpes. Methods: Health related quality of life was measured using the disease spec ific recurrent genital herpes quality of life questionnaire (RGHQoL) as par t of a randomised, double blind, 52 week, placebo controlled, dose ranging study of once and twice daily valaciclovir or aciclovir for the suppression of recurrent genital herpes in patients with six or more recurrences per y ear. Results: Of 1479 participants, 1349 patients completed the baseline questio nnaire. There were no significant baseline differences in RGHQoL score betw een any of the treatment groups. After 3 months there were significantly gr eater improvements in mean RGHQoL scores for all active treatment groups co mpared with placebo (p<0.05). Mean RGHQoL score improvements from baseline remained significantly higher in the active treatment groups than in the pl acebo group after 6 and 12 months, indicating that the improved health rela ted quality of life in patients receiving suppressive antiviral therapy was sustained over a prolonged period of time. Conclusion: Suppressive antiviral therapy is an effective strategy for impr oving the quality of life of patients with recurrent genital herpes. These improvements in quality of life are sustained over time, thus enhancing the clinical benefit in the long term management of this condition.