INPATIENT DECOMPENSATED CHRONIC LIVER DISEASE: EPIDEMIOLOGY AND HOSPITAL OUTCOMES IN TERTIARY CARE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66604/kt79tw61Keywords:
Decompensated chronic liver diseases, Epidemiology, DCLD, Disease outcomeAbstract
Background: decompensated chronic liver disease (DCLD) is the leading cause of global mortality and morbidity with varied aetiological factors and inconsistent outcomes. Extensive literature exists on its clinical and management aspects, but little on epidemiological outcomes; therefore, this study aims to characterise the epidemiology and hospital outcomes of patients admitted with DCLD in a tertiary care hospital. Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted at Khyber Teaching Hospital & Hayat Medical Complex from March 2019 to April 2021 among adult inpatients with confirmed cirrhosis. Data on demographic and disease characteristics were recorded and analysed using SPSS-26. The primary outcome, i.e., discharge status (improved vs. died), was tested using independent t-tests and chi-square/Fisher’s exact tests with p<0.05. Results: A total of 61 diagnosed cases of DCLD, male 36 (59%), with an overall mean age of 49.61±14.028 years, a mean duration of disease of 3.94±3.649 years, and 4.02±1.576 days of LOS were included. The mortality rate of in-patient DCLD patients was 12 (19.7%). Only aetiology was significantly associated with patient outcomes. Patients who improved had a longer hospital stay. Conclusion: Outcomes in DCLD are strongly influenced by non-clinical forces. Social class was more important in predicting death than clinical factors, while gender and disease duration mattered less than expected. The high death rate from Hepatitis C needs immediate action to improve access to care. Also, staying longer in the hospital may help save lives by allowing better management of complications.
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