Demographic and Clinical Profile in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Central Nepal

Introduction: Liver cirrhosis is an important health problem worldwide and is a common disease in Nepal. The profile of cirrhosis may vary due to different factors. This study was undertaken to see the demographic and clinical profiles of patients with cirrhosis of liver attending a tertiary care hospital in Central Nepal. Methods: Six hundred patients with clinical features, laboratory and sonological findings suggestive of chronic liver dysfunction and endoscopic evidence of portal hypertension were included in the study. Their demographic and clinical profile, endoscopic findings, outcomes during hospitalization were studied. Ethical approval was taken from Institutional Review Committee of College of Medical Sciences. SPSS 20 was used for statistical analysis. Results: The mean age of subjects was 54±11.84 years with 435 males (72.5%) and 165 (27.5%) females. Majority of 203 (33.8%) patients were from Mongol ethnicity followed by 127 (21.2%) Khas. Two hundred and twenty (36.6%) were farmers followed by 169 (28.2%) retired personnel. A total of 338 (56.4 %) patients were from rural areas. The commonest aetiology of cirrhosis was chronic alcohol consumption and seen in 552 (92%) patients. Abdominal distension was commonest presenting sign and observed in 561 (93.5%) patients. Ascites seen in 555 (92.5%) patients was the commonest complication followed by UGI bleed in 326(54.3%) patients. Gastro-oesophageal varices observed in 345 (57.5%) patients, was the most common endoscopic finding followed by portal gastropathy, peptic ulcer and erosive mucosal diseases. In patient mortality was noted in 92 (15.3 %) patients. Conclusions: This study highlights the burden of cirrhosis, usually caused by chronic alcohol consumption in Central Nepal. Majority of subjects were male, middle aged, farmers, from rural areas and predominantly observed in some ethnicity like Mongols. Cirrhotic patients usually present late with varied complications and have high mortality. Keywords: cirrhosis of liver; complications; endoscopy