Sociodemographic and medical characteristics of liver cirrhosis deaths in a Ghanaian tertiary hospital

OBJECTIVE: Cirrhosis is common in Ghana because of its high risk factors prevalence. However, information on cirrhosis in Ghana is lacking. This study aimed to study the clinical, and laboratory characteristics of cirrhotic patients in a tertiary hospital in Ghana. DESIGN: This was a retrospective study of sociodemographic characteristics, symptoms and signs, biochemical and fibrotic indices, treatments, and complications data of 247 patients with cirrhosis who died on admission. SETTING: This study was carried out at the Gastroenterology Unit of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana, RESULTS: Two-thirds (68.0%) of the patients were within 30 to 60 years, with more than half (73.7%) being males. The most common aetiological factors among the patients were Hepatitis B virus infection (53.8%), alcohol use (31.6%) and Hepatitis C virus infection (4.9%). More than half (55.0%) of the patients reported late for admission, and 67.2% died within the first two weeks of admission. The most common clinical feature was abdominal distension (61.1% of patients), and the least was upper-abdominal mass (14.2%). The levels of most liver test parameters were elevated, fibrotic indices were high, and haemoglobin and albumin levels were reduced. More than half (53.8%) of the patients were in Child Pugh class B. The most common complication was hepatic encephalopathy; the least was hepato-renal syndrome. Definite treatment for complications of cirrhosis was lacking. CONCLUSION: Deaths from cirrhosis at the hospital were mostly of young males with chronic hepatitis B infection. Implementation of hepatitis B prevention and treatment guidelines can help reduce cirrhosis deaths. FUNDING: None declared