Risk Factors, Complications and Prognosis of Cirrhosis in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Peshawar

Background and Aims: To determine the risk factors, complications and prognosis of cirrhosis in a hospital based study at Peshawar.

Methods: A descriptive Cross sectional study, in medical department, Khyber teaching hospital Peshawar, from April 2005 to march 2006.Relevant informations were recorded from patients and treatment chart of the patients, on a questionnaire designed in accordance with the objectives of the study. 

Results: A total of 61 patients, 41(67.21%) males and 20(32.78%) females were included. The age range of the patients was from 36 to 75 years with mean age of 57.5 years. Forty-four patients (72.33%) had family history of chronic liver diseases. The risk factors distribution was: Chronic hepatitis "B" infection (13.11%), chronic hepatitis "C" infection (59.01%), chronic hepatitis "B" and "C" co-infection (8.19%), Biliary cirrhosis (3.27%), Wilson disease (1.63%) and No risk factors recorded were recorded in (14.75%) patients. Complications of liver cirrhosis recorded were: Ascites (27.86%), Variceal hemorrhage (18.03%), Hepatorenal syndrome (3.27%), Encephalopathies (1.63%), Hepatocellular carcinoma (1.63%) and no complications were recorded in (47.54%) patients. Prognosis of patients with cirrhosis based on modified child's Pugh classification was studied in only 30(49.18%) of patients. Out of thirty patients 25(83.33%) had child's 'A' grade of prognosis, 4(13.33%) Child's 'B' grade and 1(3.33%) Child's 'C' grade.

Conclusions: Chronic hepatitis B and C infections were the major risk factors for cirrhosis. Ascites and variceal bleeding were recorded as major complications of cirrhosis and majority of our patients fit in child's a grade of prognosis with 45% chances of 5 years survival.