ANALYSIS OF EPIDEMIOLOGY AND SYMPTOMATOLOGY OF EXUDATIVE TYPE OF ASCITES IN HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS

Introduction: Ascites is a major complication of cirrhosis, occurring in 50% of patients over 10 years of follow up. Aims and objectives: The main objective of the study is to analyse the epidemiology and symptomatology of exudative type of ascites in hospitalized patients. Material and methods: This descriptive study was conducted in King Edward Medical University, Lahore during 2019. The majority of patients presenting with ascites will present to the medical outpatient department (OPD), medical emergency, and medical wards. The medical OPD, emergency, and wards are staffed with internists, internal medicine residents, interns, and nurses. The patient's clinical profile is kept recorded in their charts. Results: A total of 52 patients with ascites were included in this study. Thirty (57.7%) of them were males and the majority (77%) of the participants were fifty years old or younger. The mean age was 43.8 (± 14); the age range of the patients was from 19 to 80. The majority (86.5%) of the participants were from a rural area and 41 (78.8%) were married. Conclusion: It is concluded that liver cirrhosis is the major cause of ascites in Pakistan while chronic viral hepatitis infections (HBV and HCV) are the main causes of liver cirrhosis