Primary biliary cholangitis: Perception and expectation of illness in Italian patients

An important tool to explore personal experience of symptoms, treatment and clinical outcome is stratification of illness perception in patients affected by PBC. Aim: To assess the perception of illness in a cohort of Italian patients with PBC. Methods: Between June and December 2019, a specific questionnaire was administered to a pool of 210 patients from 7 tertiary Italian centers, in order to identify and assess the patient's past history, symptoms and their impact on the quality of life, follow-up, treatment and perceived satisfaction of patients toward the provided care. Results: Fatigue, pruritus, and abdominal discomfort and sicca syndrome were present in 50.4%, 45%, 30.4% and 28.5% of patients, fatigue having the most impacting the daily-life. After a consultation with a specialist, the diagnosis of PBC was met within 18 months for 143 patients. Patients were mostly concerned about possible health problems that occur and in 25% of cases, symptoms had a negative impact on their life. Eighty percent of patients said they were satisfied with efficacy and tolerability of treatment, while 26% requested an improvement in the relationship with the specialist. Conclusions: The results highlight the importance of both promoting timely referral to the specialist and facilitating communication between healthcare professionals and patients.