Caracterización epidemiológica y clínica de la cirrosis hepatica en un centro regional del caribe colombiano: clínica general del norte. Enero 2012 a marzo 2017

Abstract

La cirrosis hepática es una de las enfermedades con mayor prevalencia y mortalidad en la población mundial; cuyas etiologías más importantes son de tipo alcohólica, virus de la hepatitis B y C, y esteatosis hepática no alcohólica; la caracterización epidemiológica y clínica, es fundamental para conocer la casuística actual del problema. Se presenta un estudio descriptivo trasversal retrospectivo, con el objetivo de caracterizar epidemiológicamente y clínicamente a los pacientes con diagnóstico de cirrosis hepática en un centro regional del Caribe Colombiano, que reciben atención en la Unidad de Gastroenterología y hepatología de la Clínica General del Norte, durante el periodo enero de 2012 a marzo de 2017. Se concluye que la etiología por virus de hepatitis C es la de mayor prevalencia en el medio local, le siguen en frecuencia el hígado graso no alcohólico, la hepatitis autoinmune, la cirrosis biliar primaria, el alcohol, viral hepatitis B y otras etiologías.

Characterization of patients with acutely decompensated cirrhosis who received care in different highly complex emergency services of Medellín, Colombia.

“…Regarding the etiology of cirrhosis, a study conducted in the Caribbean region of Colombia found that hepatitis C infection was the main cause of the disease, followed by non-alcoholic fatty liver disease 4 , which contrasts with the results of our study where alcohol consumption was identified as the etiology in nearly half of all cases of cirrhosis and viral hepatitis in only 7.3%, highlighting the regional epidemiological differences within the same country. Although in our study cryptogenic etiology surpassed non-alcoholic fatty liver disease as the cause of cirrhosis, it is possible that this is due to underreporting and the absence of a complete study of various cardiovascular risk factors in patients.…”

“…In Colombia, the epidemiological behavior of cirrhotic patients has been described through retrospective and prospective studies aimed at characterizing the population receiving care in hepatology and gastroenterology outpatient services, as well as hospitalization in general wards 2 , 4 , 11 , 12 , 18 . The relevance of this study lies in the fact that, after an extensive literature review and to our knowledge, it is the first and largest of its kind, both locally and in Latin America, to describe the presentation of acutely decompensated patients in the emergency department based on the reasons for consultation or chief complaints.…”

“…This public health problem is attributed to approximately 1’000,000 deaths per year 3 , 4 , with a mortality rate that ranges from 48 to 68 cases per 100,000 people in European countries, and approximately 117.41 cases per 100,000 people in México 5 , 6 . Among people with cirrhosis, the relative risk of death increases 4.7 times, and in cases of decompensation, up to 9.7 times 7 .…”

“…Observational studies conducted in Colombia between 2014 and 2020 have shown that the most common acute complications of cirrhosis are variceal bleeding, ascites, and encephalopathy. The most common causes of cirrhosis were non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, alcohol use, and hepatitis C 2 , 4 , 11 , 12 . The overall prevalence of decompensation is estimated at 60%, and the natural history of cirrhotic disease indicates that 42% of patients progress from a compensated to a decompensated state within 10 years 13 .…”

Information Needs of Patients with Cirrhosis of the Liver and Quality of Life

“…La población de este estudio es congruente epidemiológicamente con otros estudios realizados en Colombia en pacientes con cirrosis (17)(18)(19)(20) . La principal necesidad de información identificada entre los pacientes con CH fue la relacionada con las descompensaciones y complicaciones de la enfermedad, seguida por la de progresión y pronóstico, tratamiento farmacológico específico y efectos secundarios, riesgo de cáncer de hígado y necesidad de trasplante hepático.…”