The Burden of Chronic Liver Disease Patients: Their Clinical and Laboratory Profiles at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi

Objective: To determine the burden of chronic liver disease patients, their clinical and laboratory profiles at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi.

Study design: Cross-sectional study.

Methodology: This study was conducted from November 2015 to September 2016 at Medical wards of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi. A total of 115 patients who had given informed consent and already had established diagnosis of CLD were included in it. A structured questionnaire was developed, containing all relevant questions and modified with the help of previous studies. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 20. Frequencies, percentages and p-values were reported for various categorical variables. Chi square analyses were conducted to determine association between age groups and presenting complains, duration of disease and Hb levels, cause of CLD and various variables including marital status, gender, Hb levels and sodium levels p-values of <0.05 was taken as statistically significant.

Results: A total of 115 patients were interviewed in which 59.1% patients were male. Demographic data showed majority of patients were in the age group 36-45 years (35.7%), married (91.3%) and non-alcoholics (95.7%). Hepatitis C was found to be the major cause of chronic liver disease (84.3%) and a large group of them (60.9%) had disease duration of >36 months. Majority of them presented with more than one sign and symptoms of decompensation including hematemesis, melena and distention (24.3%). It was shown that patients with longer duration of disease (36 months or more) were associated with mild anemia (Hb level 9.5- 13 gm/dl) (p=0.039). In age group 36-45 years had laboratory reports showing moderate thrombocytopenia (platelets count 50-99,000/μl) (p=0.005). Presented with more than one sign and symptom of decompensation (hematemesis, melena and distention) (p<0.0.5) Large number of people having Hepatitis C as a cause of CLD had lab reports showing mild anemia (9.5-13 gm/dl) (p=0.000) and mild to moderate hyponatremia (120-134 mEq/L) (p=<0.005).

Conclusion: Hence, it is concluded from our study that Hepatitis C is the most common cause of chronic liver disease found in JPMC, Karachi. Majority of patients with chronic liver disease were anemic and hyponatremic.

Author(s): Fahad Khan, Maryam Samad and Fatima Arif

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