Distribution and Determinants of Etiologies and Complications of Chronic Liver Diseases Among Patients at a Tertiary Hospital in a Lower Economic Region of Ghana

Matthew Aidoo; Baba Sulemana Mohammed

doi:doi:10.11648/j.cajph.20200605.16

| Peer-Reviewed

Distribution and Determinants of Etiologies and Complications of Chronic Liver Diseases Among Patients at a Tertiary Hospital in a Lower Economic Region of Ghana

Matthew Aidoo, Baba Sulemana Mohammed

Published in Central African Journal of Public Health (Volume 6, Issue 5)

Received: 4 September 2020 Accepted: 17 September 2020 Published: 25 September 2020

Views: Downloads:

Download PDF

Share This Article

Twitter
Linked In
Facebook

Abstract

There is dearth of data on the epidemiology of chronic liver diseases (CLDs) in northern Ghana. To this extent, we intended to investigate the distribution and determinants of the etiologies and complications of CLDs at the Tamale Teaching Hospital, a referral hospital of northern Ghana. The medical records of patients with CLDs admitted at the medical ward of Tamale Teaching Hospital from June to December 2019 were reviewed in a retrospective cross-sectional study. Out of 180 patients reviewed, 130 (72.2%) were males; the age range was 18–86 years, with a mean age of 41 43 years. Etiologies of CLDs comprised hepatis B viral infection (53.3%), hepatitis C viral infection (21.7%), unknown (9.4%), hepatocellular carcinoma (8.9%), and alcoholic liver disease (6.7%). Among the complications of CLDs; cirrhosis (71.1%), hypoalbuminemia (59.4%), ascites (58.3%) and jaundice (52.2%) occurred in more than half of the patients. Age (p=<0.001), education (p=0.005) and intake of herbal medicine (p=0.001) were associated with the etiologies of CLDs. There was a significant association between the etiologies of CLDs and complications; cirrhosis (p=<0.001), hypoalbuminemia (p=0.003), ascites (p=<0.001), and jaundice (p=0.009). Hepatitis B and hepatitis C viral infections were the main etiologies of CLDs. Young/middle age, non-education and intake of herbal medicine were risk factors for the main etiologies of CLDs. Cirrhosis, hypoalbuminemia, ascites, and jaundice were the major complications of CLDs. Chronic hepatitis B and C viral infections were risk factors for developing the major complications of CLDs. Implementation of integrated public health strategies targeted at risk groups (young/middle age adults, illiterates, consumers of herbal medicine, patients with hepatitis B and C viral infections) may help curtail the burden of CLDs in northern Ghana.

Published in	Central African Journal of Public Health (Volume 6, Issue 5)
DOI	10.11648/j.cajph.20200605.16
Page(s)	280-287
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Chronic, Complications, Determinants, Diseases, Distribution, Etiologies, Liver

References

[1]	OMICS, “Chronic Liver Diseases,” 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.omicsonline.org. [Accessed: 18-Jul-2020].
[2]	P. Marcellin and B. K. Kutala, “Liver diseases: A major, neglected global public health problem requiring urgent actions and large-scale screening,” Liver Int., vol. 38, no. suppl. 1, pp. 2–6, 2018.
[3]	A. M. Mooon, A. G. Signal, and E. B. Tapper, “Contemporary Epidemiology of Chronic Liver Disease and Cirrhosis,” Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol, vol. S1542-3565, no. 19, pp. 30849–3, 2019.
[4]	U. Fedeli, F. Avossa, E. Ferroni, A. De Paoli, F. Donato, and M. Chiara, “Prevalence of chronic liver disease among young / middle-aged adults in Northern Italy : role of hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infection by age, sex, ethnicity,” Heliyon, vol. 5, no. 7, p. e02114, 2019.
[5]	X. Wang et al., “Study of liver cirrhosis over ten consecutive years in Southern China,” World J Gastroenterol, vol. 20, no. 37, pp. 13546–13555, 2014.
[6]	R. Allan, K. Thoirs, and M. Phillips, “Accuracy of ultrasound to identify chronic liver disease,” World J. Gastroenterol., vol. 16, no. 28, pp. 3510–3520, 2010.
[7]	EASL, “Clinical Practice Guidelines OF HEPATOLOGY EASL Clinical Practice Guidelines for the management of patients with decompensated cirrhosis q Clinical Practice Guidelines,” J. Hepatol., vol. xxx, pp. 1–55, 2018.
[8]	S. C. Nwokediuko, P. C. Osuala, U. V Uduma, A. K. Alaneme, C. C. Onwuka, and C. Mesigo, “Pattern of liver disease admissions in a Nigerian tertiary hospital,” Niger J Clin Pr., vol. 16, no. 3, pp. 339–342, 2013.
[9]	G. Choudhuri, S. Chaudhari, D. Pawar, and D. Sen Roy, “Etiological Patterns, Liver Fibrosis Stages and Prescribing Patterns of Hepato-Protective Agents in Indian Patients with Chronic Liver Disease,” J Assoc Physicians India, vol. 66, no. 12, pp. 58–63, 2018.
[10]	E. Sagnelli, C. Sagnelli, and M. Pirisi, “Gender differences in chronic liver diseases in two cohorts of 2001 and 2014 in Italy,” Infection, vol. 46, no. 1, pp. 93–101, 2018.
[11]	G. Hirode, S. Saab, and R. J. Wong, “Trends in the Burden of Chronic Liver Disease Among Hospitalized US Adults,” Gastroenterol. Hepatol., vol. 3, no. 4, pp. 1–15, 2020.
[12]	O. Lesi, M. Kehinde, and E. Anomneze, “Chronic liver disease in Lagos: A clinicopathological study,” Niger Postgr. Med J, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 91–96, 2004.
[13]	M. Ak et al., “Pattern of Liver Diseases,” J Nepal Heal. Res Counc, vol. 7, no. 14, pp. 14–18, 2009.
[14]	O. F. Bamidele, A. B. Olokoba, M. O. Bojuwoye, and R. O. Akintayo, “Prevalence of minimal hepatic encephalopathy among patients with chronic liver disease in Ilorin, Nigeria,” Ghana Med J, vol. 53, no. 4, pp. 299–303, 2019.
[15]	Ghana Statistical Service, “Population and Housing Census 2010,” Accra, Ghana, 2012.
[16]	M. Kooffreh-ada, H. Okpara, A. Oku, and P. A. Ihekwaba, “Risk factors of chronic liver disease amongst patients receiving care in a Gastroenterology practice in Calabar,” IOSR J. Dent. Med. Sci., vol. 14, no. 12, pp. 6–13, 2015.
[17]	Amadi CN and O. E. Orisakwe, “Herb-Induced Liver Injuries in Developing Nations: An Update,” Toxics, vol. 6, no. 24, pp. 1–13, 2018.
[18]	S. Abdelmenan et al., “Etiology of Chronic Liver Disease in Ethiopia: A Case Control Study with Special Reference to Viral Hepatitis and Alcoho,” EC Gastroenterol Dig Syst, vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 120–128, 2019.
[19]	A. G. Ayele and S. Gebre-Selassie, “Prevalence and Risk Factors of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C Virus Infections among Patients with Chronic Liver Diseases in Public Hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,” ISRN Trop Med, vol. 2013, pp. 1–7, 2013.
[20]	J. Abesig, Y. Chen, H. Wang, F. M. Sompo, and I. X. Y. Wu, “Prevalence of viral hepatitis B in Ghana between 2015 and 2019 : A systematic review and meta-analysis,” PLoS One, vol. 15, no. 6, pp. 1–16, 2020.
[21]	R. Ofori-asenso and A. A. Agyeman, “Hepatitis B in Ghana: a systematic review & meta-analysis of prevalence studies,” BMC Infect. Dis., vol. 16, no. 130, pp. 1–15, 2016.
[22]	M. J. Alter, “Epidemiology of hepatitis B in Europe and worldwide,” J. Hepatol., vol. 39, no. 2003, pp. S64–S69, 2003.
[23]	H. W. Zhang et al., “Risk factors for acute hepatitis B and its progression to chronic hepatitis in Shanghai, China,” Hepatology, vol. 57, pp. 1713–1720, 2008.
[24]	H. Ashraf et al., “Prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis B and C virus infections in an impoverished urban community in Dhaka, Bangladesh,” BMC Infect. Dis., vol. 10, no. 208, pp. 1–8, 2010.
[25]	United Nations, “Illiteracy Has Direct Impact on Human Health, Says Secretary-General in Message to Mark Literacy Day as He Calls for More Investment to Boost Reading Skills,” Meetings Coverage and Press Releases, 2008. [Online]. Available: https://www.un.org. [Accessed: 10-Jul-2020].
[26]	E. Castro-Sanchez, P. Chang, R. Vila-Candel, A. Escobedo, and A. Holmes, “Health Literacy and Infectious Diseases: Why Does It Matter?,” Int J Infect Dis., vol. 43, pp. 103–110, 2016.
[27]	WHO, “Why Health Litercay is Important,” 2013. [Online]. Available: https://www.euro.who.int. [Accessed: 10-Jul-2020].
[28]	B. J. Auerbach et al., “Traditional Herbal Medicine Use Associated with Liver Fibrosis in Rural Rakai, Uganda,” PLoS One, vol. 7, no. 11, pp. 5–12, 2012.
[29]	H. C. C. Study, K. Stene-johansen, S. G. Gundersen, and M. Y. Morgan, “Khat Chewing Increases the Risk for Developing Chronic Liver Disease : A,” Hepatology, vol. 68, no. 1, pp. 248–257, 2018.
[30]	R. Teschke, C. Frenzel, X. Glass, J. Schulze, and A. Eickhoff, “Herbal hepatotoxicity: a critical review,” Br. J. Clin. Pharmacol, vol. 75, no. 3, pp. 630–636, 2012.
[31]	R. Teschke, A. Wolff, C. Frenzel, J. Schulze, and A. Eickhoff, “Herbal hepatotoxicity: A tabular compilation of reported cases,” Liver Int., vol. 32, pp. 1543–1556, 2012.
[32]	A. N. Mukerji, V. Patel, and A. Jain, “Improving Survival in Decompensated Cirrhosis,” Int. J. Hepatol., vol. 2012, pp. 1–14, 2012.
[33]	WHO, “What is hepatitis?,” 2019. [Online]. Available: https://www.who.int. [Accessed: 10-Jul-2020].
[34]	J. Perz, G. Armstrong, L. Farrington, Y. Hutin, and B. Bell, “The contributions of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infections to cirrhosis and primary liver cancer worldwide,” J. Hepatol., vol. 45, pp. 529–538, 2006.
[35]	WHO, Guidelines for the prevention, care and treatment of persons with chronic hepatitis b infection, no. March. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO Press, 2015.
[36]	WHO, Guidelines for the care and treatment of persons diagnosed with chronic hepatitis c virus infection, no. July. Geneva, World Health Organization 2018, 2018.
[37]	S. M. Alavian, M. H. Imanieh, and M. H. Imanieh, “Predictive Factors in the Incidence of Cirrhosis in Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infections,” Hepat Mon, vol. 16, no. 5, pp. 1–8, 2016.
[38]	Y. Yu, M. Xu, Z. Wang, K. Liu, Z. Wang, and Z. Jiang, “Meta-Analysis of Risk Factors for Development of Liver Cirrhosis in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients,” Glob J Infect Dis Clin Res, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 1–9, 2018.
[39]	S. B. Missiha, M. Ostrowski, and E. J. Heathcote, “Disease Progression in Chronic Hepatitis C: Modifiable and Nonmodifiable Factors,” Gastroenterology, vol. 134, pp. 1699–1714, 2008.
[40]	F. Kanwal et al., “HHS Public Access,” Hepatology, vol. 60, no. 1, pp. 98–105, 2015.
[41]	M. Bernardi, C. Maggioli, and G. Zaccherini, “Human albumin in the management of complications of liver cirrhosis,” Crit. Care, vol. 16, no. 211, pp. 1–7, 2012.
[42]	M. A. Merza, “Characteristics of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Patients Related Liver Cirrhosis in a Tertiary Care Referral Hospital, Duhok, Iraqi Kurdistan,” Gastroenterol Pancreatol Liver Disord, vol. 4, no. 5, pp. 1–5, 2017.
[43]	M. Wrotkowska, P. Stalke, T. Smiatacz, and J. M. Zaucha, “Hematological Complications in Chronic Heaptitis C Virus Infection,” Am. Soc. Hematol., vol. 124, no. 21, p. 2169, 2014.
[44]	M. O. Amer and H. Elsiesy, “Ascites: Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment,” IntechOpen, pp. 117–137, 2017.
[45]	O. A. Muhie, “Causes and Clinical Profiles of Ascites at University of Gondar Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia: Institution-Based Cross-Sectional Study,” Can. J. Gastroenterol. Hepatol., vol. 2019, pp. 1–8, 2019.
[46]	R. Shah, “Gastroenterology: Ascites,” Medscape MedPulse News CME & Education, 2017. [Online]. Available: https://www.medscape.com. [Accessed: 15-Apr-2019].
[47]	M. Owusu et al., “Aetiology of viral hepatitis among jaundiced patients presenting to a tertiary hospital in Ghana,” PLoS One, vol. 13, no. 9, pp. 1–14, 2018.
[48]	M. Ochwoto et al., “Hepatitis B infection is highly prevalent among patients presenting with jaundice in Kenya,” BMC Infect. Dis., vol. 16, no. 101, pp. 1–14, 2016.

Cite This Article

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Matthew Aidoo, Baba Sulemana Mohammed. (2020). Distribution and Determinants of Etiologies and Complications of Chronic Liver Diseases Among Patients at a Tertiary Hospital in a Lower Economic Region of Ghana. Central African Journal of Public Health, 6(5), 280-287. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20200605.16

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Matthew Aidoo; Baba Sulemana Mohammed. Distribution and Determinants of Etiologies and Complications of Chronic Liver Diseases Among Patients at a Tertiary Hospital in a Lower Economic Region of Ghana. Cent. Afr. J. Public Health 2020, 6(5), 280-287. doi: 10.11648/j.cajph.20200605.16

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Matthew Aidoo, Baba Sulemana Mohammed. Distribution and Determinants of Etiologies and Complications of Chronic Liver Diseases Among Patients at a Tertiary Hospital in a Lower Economic Region of Ghana. Cent Afr J Public Health. 2020;6(5):280-287. doi: 10.11648/j.cajph.20200605.16

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.cajph.20200605.16,
  author = {Matthew Aidoo and Baba Sulemana Mohammed},
  title = {Distribution and Determinants of Etiologies and Complications of Chronic Liver Diseases Among Patients at a Tertiary Hospital in a Lower Economic Region of Ghana},
  journal = {Central African Journal of Public Health},
  volume = {6},
  number = {5},
  pages = {280-287},
  doi = {10.11648/j.cajph.20200605.16},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20200605.16},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.cajph.20200605.16},
  abstract = {There is dearth of data on the epidemiology of chronic liver diseases (CLDs) in northern Ghana. To this extent, we intended to investigate the distribution and determinants of the etiologies and complications of CLDs at the Tamale Teaching Hospital, a referral hospital of northern Ghana. The medical records of patients with CLDs admitted at the medical ward of Tamale Teaching Hospital from June to December 2019 were reviewed in a retrospective cross-sectional study. Out of 180 patients reviewed, 130 (72.2%) were males; the age range was 18–86 years, with a mean age of 41 43 years. Etiologies of CLDs comprised hepatis B viral infection (53.3%), hepatitis C viral infection (21.7%), unknown (9.4%), hepatocellular carcinoma (8.9%), and alcoholic liver disease (6.7%). Among the complications of CLDs; cirrhosis (71.1%), hypoalbuminemia (59.4%), ascites (58.3%) and jaundice (52.2%) occurred in more than half of the patients. Age (p=<0.001), education (p=0.005) and intake of herbal medicine (p=0.001) were associated with the etiologies of CLDs. There was a significant association between the etiologies of CLDs and complications; cirrhosis (p=<0.001), hypoalbuminemia (p=0.003), ascites (p=<0.001), and jaundice (p=0.009). Hepatitis B and hepatitis C viral infections were the main etiologies of CLDs. Young/middle age, non-education and intake of herbal medicine were risk factors for the main etiologies of CLDs. Cirrhosis, hypoalbuminemia, ascites, and jaundice were the major complications of CLDs. Chronic hepatitis B and C viral infections were risk factors for developing the major complications of CLDs. Implementation of integrated public health strategies targeted at risk groups (young/middle age adults, illiterates, consumers of herbal medicine, patients with hepatitis B and C viral infections) may help curtail the burden of CLDs in northern Ghana.},
 year = {2020}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Distribution and Determinants of Etiologies and Complications of Chronic Liver Diseases Among Patients at a Tertiary Hospital in a Lower Economic Region of Ghana
AU  - Matthew Aidoo
AU  - Baba Sulemana Mohammed
Y1  - 2020/09/25
PY  - 2020
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20200605.16
DO  - 10.11648/j.cajph.20200605.16
T2  - Central African Journal of Public Health
JF  - Central African Journal of Public Health
JO  - Central African Journal of Public Health
SP  - 280
EP  - 287
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-5781
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20200605.16
AB  - There is dearth of data on the epidemiology of chronic liver diseases (CLDs) in northern Ghana. To this extent, we intended to investigate the distribution and determinants of the etiologies and complications of CLDs at the Tamale Teaching Hospital, a referral hospital of northern Ghana. The medical records of patients with CLDs admitted at the medical ward of Tamale Teaching Hospital from June to December 2019 were reviewed in a retrospective cross-sectional study. Out of 180 patients reviewed, 130 (72.2%) were males; the age range was 18–86 years, with a mean age of 41 43 years. Etiologies of CLDs comprised hepatis B viral infection (53.3%), hepatitis C viral infection (21.7%), unknown (9.4%), hepatocellular carcinoma (8.9%), and alcoholic liver disease (6.7%). Among the complications of CLDs; cirrhosis (71.1%), hypoalbuminemia (59.4%), ascites (58.3%) and jaundice (52.2%) occurred in more than half of the patients. Age (p=<0.001), education (p=0.005) and intake of herbal medicine (p=0.001) were associated with the etiologies of CLDs. There was a significant association between the etiologies of CLDs and complications; cirrhosis (p=<0.001), hypoalbuminemia (p=0.003), ascites (p=<0.001), and jaundice (p=0.009). Hepatitis B and hepatitis C viral infections were the main etiologies of CLDs. Young/middle age, non-education and intake of herbal medicine were risk factors for the main etiologies of CLDs. Cirrhosis, hypoalbuminemia, ascites, and jaundice were the major complications of CLDs. Chronic hepatitis B and C viral infections were risk factors for developing the major complications of CLDs. Implementation of integrated public health strategies targeted at risk groups (young/middle age adults, illiterates, consumers of herbal medicine, patients with hepatitis B and C viral infections) may help curtail the burden of CLDs in northern Ghana.
VL  - 6
IS  - 5
ER  -

Copy | Download

Author Information

Matthew Aidoo

Directorate of Pharmacy, Tamale Teaching Hospital, Tamale, Ghana
Baba Sulemana Mohammed

Department of Pharmacy, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana

Download PDF

Sections

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Matthew Aidoo, Baba Sulemana Mohammed. (2020). Distribution and Determinants of Etiologies and Complications of Chronic Liver Diseases Among Patients at a Tertiary Hospital in a Lower Economic Region of Ghana. Central African Journal of Public Health, 6(5), 280-287. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20200605.16

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Matthew Aidoo; Baba Sulemana Mohammed. Distribution and Determinants of Etiologies and Complications of Chronic Liver Diseases Among Patients at a Tertiary Hospital in a Lower Economic Region of Ghana. Cent. Afr. J. Public Health 2020, 6(5), 280-287. doi: 10.11648/j.cajph.20200605.16

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Matthew Aidoo, Baba Sulemana Mohammed. Distribution and Determinants of Etiologies and Complications of Chronic Liver Diseases Among Patients at a Tertiary Hospital in a Lower Economic Region of Ghana. Cent Afr J Public Health. 2020;6(5):280-287. doi: 10.11648/j.cajph.20200605.16

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.cajph.20200605.16,
  author = {Matthew Aidoo and Baba Sulemana Mohammed},
  title = {Distribution and Determinants of Etiologies and Complications of Chronic Liver Diseases Among Patients at a Tertiary Hospital in a Lower Economic Region of Ghana},
  journal = {Central African Journal of Public Health},
  volume = {6},
  number = {5},
  pages = {280-287},
  doi = {10.11648/j.cajph.20200605.16},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20200605.16},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.cajph.20200605.16},
  abstract = {There is dearth of data on the epidemiology of chronic liver diseases (CLDs) in northern Ghana. To this extent, we intended to investigate the distribution and determinants of the etiologies and complications of CLDs at the Tamale Teaching Hospital, a referral hospital of northern Ghana. The medical records of patients with CLDs admitted at the medical ward of Tamale Teaching Hospital from June to December 2019 were reviewed in a retrospective cross-sectional study. Out of 180 patients reviewed, 130 (72.2%) were males; the age range was 18–86 years, with a mean age of 41 43 years. Etiologies of CLDs comprised hepatis B viral infection (53.3%), hepatitis C viral infection (21.7%), unknown (9.4%), hepatocellular carcinoma (8.9%), and alcoholic liver disease (6.7%). Among the complications of CLDs; cirrhosis (71.1%), hypoalbuminemia (59.4%), ascites (58.3%) and jaundice (52.2%) occurred in more than half of the patients. Age (p=<0.001), education (p=0.005) and intake of herbal medicine (p=0.001) were associated with the etiologies of CLDs. There was a significant association between the etiologies of CLDs and complications; cirrhosis (p=<0.001), hypoalbuminemia (p=0.003), ascites (p=<0.001), and jaundice (p=0.009). Hepatitis B and hepatitis C viral infections were the main etiologies of CLDs. Young/middle age, non-education and intake of herbal medicine were risk factors for the main etiologies of CLDs. Cirrhosis, hypoalbuminemia, ascites, and jaundice were the major complications of CLDs. Chronic hepatitis B and C viral infections were risk factors for developing the major complications of CLDs. Implementation of integrated public health strategies targeted at risk groups (young/middle age adults, illiterates, consumers of herbal medicine, patients with hepatitis B and C viral infections) may help curtail the burden of CLDs in northern Ghana.},
 year = {2020}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Distribution and Determinants of Etiologies and Complications of Chronic Liver Diseases Among Patients at a Tertiary Hospital in a Lower Economic Region of Ghana
AU  - Matthew Aidoo
AU  - Baba Sulemana Mohammed
Y1  - 2020/09/25
PY  - 2020
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20200605.16
DO  - 10.11648/j.cajph.20200605.16
T2  - Central African Journal of Public Health
JF  - Central African Journal of Public Health
JO  - Central African Journal of Public Health
SP  - 280
EP  - 287
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-5781
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20200605.16
AB  - There is dearth of data on the epidemiology of chronic liver diseases (CLDs) in northern Ghana. To this extent, we intended to investigate the distribution and determinants of the etiologies and complications of CLDs at the Tamale Teaching Hospital, a referral hospital of northern Ghana. The medical records of patients with CLDs admitted at the medical ward of Tamale Teaching Hospital from June to December 2019 were reviewed in a retrospective cross-sectional study. Out of 180 patients reviewed, 130 (72.2%) were males; the age range was 18–86 years, with a mean age of 41 43 years. Etiologies of CLDs comprised hepatis B viral infection (53.3%), hepatitis C viral infection (21.7%), unknown (9.4%), hepatocellular carcinoma (8.9%), and alcoholic liver disease (6.7%). Among the complications of CLDs; cirrhosis (71.1%), hypoalbuminemia (59.4%), ascites (58.3%) and jaundice (52.2%) occurred in more than half of the patients. Age (p=<0.001), education (p=0.005) and intake of herbal medicine (p=0.001) were associated with the etiologies of CLDs. There was a significant association between the etiologies of CLDs and complications; cirrhosis (p=<0.001), hypoalbuminemia (p=0.003), ascites (p=<0.001), and jaundice (p=0.009). Hepatitis B and hepatitis C viral infections were the main etiologies of CLDs. Young/middle age, non-education and intake of herbal medicine were risk factors for the main etiologies of CLDs. Cirrhosis, hypoalbuminemia, ascites, and jaundice were the major complications of CLDs. Chronic hepatitis B and C viral infections were risk factors for developing the major complications of CLDs. Implementation of integrated public health strategies targeted at risk groups (young/middle age adults, illiterates, consumers of herbal medicine, patients with hepatitis B and C viral infections) may help curtail the burden of CLDs in northern Ghana.
VL  - 6
IS  - 5
ER  -

Copy | Download