Journal of Emergency and Internal Medicine

Liver dynamics of HCV infection amongst patients aged 50 years or older visiting a larger tertiary care centre of Hyderabad, Pakistan

Joint Event on 8^th Edition of International Conference & Exhibition on Pain Management, Physiotherapy & Sports Medicine & 9^th Edition of International Conference on Internal Medicine & Patient Care
March 18-19, 2020 London, UK

Jawaid Iqbal, Abdul Hafeez and Mohammad Sadik Memon

Asian Institute of Medical Science, Pakistan

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Emerg Intern Med

Abstract

Background & Aims: Usually chronic infection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is asymptomatic until present as acute hepatitis, acute liver failure or development of cirrhosis with decompensation. New era of Direct-acting antiviral (DAAs) for HCV has evolved the treatment with good result and tolerability. Early diagnosis and treatment can halt the further disease progression. Method: In this cross sectional study, all the patients with HCV positive either acute or chronic hepatitis infection, cirrhoisis with or without decompensation, aged 50 year or above, of either gender, presenting in the outpatient department (OPD) were included. Results: A total of 281 patients were enrolled during the study period. Mean age of the study population was 56.91±7.21 years (range: 50-90 years) and majority were male (51.6%) and with Child class A 136 (48.4%) followed by child class B 96(34.2%). Majority of patients presented as decompensated cirrhosis and raised transamines 160 (56.9%). Most common complication was variceal bleed 95 (33.8%) followed by ascities 88 (31.3%), pedal edema24 (8.5%). More than half of the patients were not eligible for treatment. Correlation between age and gender with liver stage and comorbids was statically significant (p=0.001). Conclusion: Late diagnosis present with complication with least options of treatment. Chronic hepatitis C is curable disease and should be diagnosed as early as possible. There should be screening at younger age.