Chronic Hepatitis C Scenario among Patients Presenting to Liver Clinic at Holy Family Hospital Rawalpindi Pakistan (2006-2019)

Abstract

Muhammad Umar, Rizwana Shahid, Shazia Zeb, Tayyab Saeed Akhtar, Sumaira Yasmeen, Sadia Khan

Objectives: To determine the demographic, clinical, hematological, histological and sonographic characteristics of chronic hepatitis C patients visiting Holy Family Hospital Rawalpindi Pakistan.

Subjects & Methods: A retrospective hospital data based study (2006-2019) was carried out by collecting data of Chronic Liver Disease (CLD) from liver clinic of Holy Family Hospital Rawalpindi. Data of total 9392 chronic hepatitis C patients confirmed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was enrolled in this study through consecutive sampling. Data was collected pertinent to their demographic, clinical, hematological and histological attributes by structured questionnaire. Data was analyzed by SPSS version 25.0. Frequency of the patients belonging to each province was calculated. The mean age difference between males and females was statistically verified by independent sample t-test. Gender based differences in hematological parameters and biochemical variations with respect to severity of lesions were also statistically proven by independent sample t-test. Gender based variation in severity of grades of fibrosis was confirmed by chi-square test. P-value < 0.05 was taken as significant.

Results: Of the total 9392 chronic hepatitis C patients, 52% were females. Mean age of our study subjects was 38.3 ± 7.8 years. Maximum number (2341) of chronically infected hepatitis C patients was registered during 2019. About 7720 patients belonged to Punjab province. Mean age of the females statistically higher than those of males particularly during 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019 with P < 0.05. Sonographically majority of our patients were normal. Gender based differences in hematological attributes and biochemical parameters of patients with varying severity of lesions was statistically significant (P <0.00). Fibrotic lesions with respect to gender were statistically insignificant (P > 0.05).

Conclusion: Hepatitis C among male populates of Pakistan is more fibrotic. Frequency of chronic hepatitis C is multiplying and expanding rapidly in Pakistan. There is need to increase awareness and screening of general public in order to arrest its rapid spread and provide treatment to the victims.

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