Research papers
← vista completaPublished on August 1, 2012 | http://doi.org/10.5867/medwave.2012.07.5454
Main causes and factors associated with liver cirrhosis in patients in the General Hospital of Zone 2 of Chiapas, Mexico
Principales causas y factores asociados a cirrosis hepática en los pacientes del Hospital General de Zona 2 de Chiapas, México
Abstract
Background: Liver cirrhosis is a worldwide public health problem. Its main characteristic is low life expectancy. In Mexico, it is the second leading cause of death in the age group with the highest work productivity. Methods: The study is observational, retrospective, descriptive and cross-sectional. Data were collected on age, sex, occupation, origin, risk factors for liver damage and probable etiology of patients referred with a diagnosis of cirrhosis in a period of 2 years. Purpose: To determine the causes and factors associated with liver cirrhosis in our population. Results: Females prevailed over males by 57.2% over 42.7%. Average age was 55.27 and 55.02% were Tuxtla Gutierrez residents. The following risk factors were found: alcohol consumption (74.67%), diabetes mellitus (56.33%), obesity (41.92%), use of alternative medicines (19.22%), frequent use of drugs (12.66%), and transfusion (9.17%). Housewives were most affected (50.21%) [95% CI 43.6-56.9]. Alcoholism in 47.59% was found to be a triggering factor; in 41.92% the cause was unexplained or cryptogenic; and in 5.24% the cause was chronic viral hepatitis. Portal hypertension data were found in 89.5%: 59.8% had esophageal varices, 37.11% had ascites, and 2.62% had chronic hepatic encephalopathy. VP > 11 mm in 18.7%. The prevalence during the study period was 9.85%. Conclusions: There are significant differences observed in gender and cause of cirrhosis in this study. In the future more research should be done to look into the conditions under which women live in the city of Tuxtla Gutierrez, as well as whether other idiosyncratic factors or cultural conditions are leading to a higher prevalence of cirrhosis in this population group in the Southeast of Mexico.
