Etiology of Chronic Liver Disease in Ethiopia: A Case Control Study with Special Reference to Viral Hepatitis and
Semira Abdelmenan1, Abate Banes2, Yemane Berhane1
1The Addis Continental Institute of Public Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Introduction:
Chronic diseases of the liver are a global health problem with high morbidity and mortality. Viral hepatitis is the predominant cause for liver disease in low and middle-income countries. Viral hepatitis is also frequent in high-income countries but mainly as a complication to drug abuse or iatrogenic to treatment. In high-income countries non-fatty-liver-disease and complications to alcohol consumption are the most frequent etiology of liver disease. Viral hepatitis B and C is prevalent in Ethiopia but there are only few studies done in relation to chronic liver disease and a relationship between the increasing alcohol consumption and chronic liver disease.
Objective:
A The aim of the study was to assess the association between chronic liver disease in Ethiopia and infection with viral hepatitis and possible relation to alcohol consumption.
Methods And Material:
An unmatched case control study was conducted in Addis Ababa. Cases were chronic liver disease patients (n = 812) and controls were patients without liver disease (n = 798). Data were collected from the records of patients treated at a specialized clinic of Gastrsoenterology and Hepatology in Addis Ababa from 1st January 2013 - 31st, December 2013.
Results:
The odds of having hepatitis infection among chronic liver disease was AOR = 100.96, (95%CI: 62.15 - 164.02) for HBV and AOR = 59.2, (95%CI: 27.23 - 130.9) for HCV. Consumption of alcohol was associated with chronic liver disease (OR: 8.23 95%CI: 3.76 - 12.70). Liver enzymes were elevated significantly in patients with hepatitis and alcohol consumption compared to patients without alcohol consumption.
Conclusion:
Viral hepatitis infections are strongly associated with chronic liver disease. Prevention of viral hepatitis infections and control of alcohol consumption need to be strengthened in order to reduce the burden of chronic liver disease in Ethiopia.
Related Concept Videos
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Pathophysiologic Assessment and Liver Function Test
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Dose Adjustments Due to Hepatic Impairment
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Drug Dosing and Hepatic Blood Flow
Diseases of the Liver and Gallbladder
Cirrhosis is characterized by the scarring of hepatic lobules in the liver, which are replaced by fibrous tissue, affecting the liver's normal functioning. NAFLD, on the other hand, is caused by an excessive build-up of fat in the liver, not...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-IV: Assessement and Diagnostic Studies
Medical History
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Smoking is a primary risk factor for COPD, with over 80% of patients having a history of it. Patients typically experience progressive dyspnea or labored breathing, frequent coughing, and recurrent pulmonary infections. Many eventually succumb to respiratory failure, characterized by...


