Liver Function Test Abnormalities and Associated Factors Among Liver Disease Patients at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital Northwest, Ethiopia: Cross Sectional Study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Liver disease is a disturbance of the normal, and healthy performance of the liver. It is directly linked to liver synthesis, excretion and metabolism as a result it causes liver function disorder. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the extent of liver function abnormalities and the factors that are related to it in patients with liver disease. METHODS: The study was done on 307 liver-diseased patients using consecutively sampling from August 22, 2022 to October 24, 2022 at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital using cross-sectional study design. About 3 ml of venous blood specimen was collected and analyzed by _Bechman coulter 700 chemistry analyzer. _Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25 software. Frequencies and proportions were used to characterize the results. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression were utilized to investigate the factors associated with abnormalities in liver function. P value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. RESULT: Among 307 patients, 117 (38.11%, 95% CI: 32.64%, 43.57%), 212 (69.06%; 95% CI: 63.85%, 74.25%), 168 (54.72%, 95% CI: 49.12%, 60.32%), 171 (55.70%, 95% CI: 50.11%, 61.28%) patients had abnormal ALT, AST, and total bilirubin respectively. Nearly one fourth (25.40%) of the patients had all liver function tests abnormalities. Being male (AOR = 0.17; 95% CI: 0.08, 0.38), presence of viral hepatitis (AOR = 3.85; 95% CI: 1.23, 12.02) are significantly associated with abnormal liver ALT levels. Presence of blood transfusion history (AOR=0.45; 95%CI: 0.21, 0.95), lack of vegetable feeding habit (AOR=2.73; 95%CI: 1.34, 5.59), lack of physical exercise habit (AOR=2.97; 95%CI: 1.44, 6.11) and ALD (AOR=17.09; 95%CI: 1.96, 148.98) significantly associated with AST abnormality. Being anemic (AOR=3.33; 95%CI: 1.58, 7.08), lack of vegetable feeding habit (AOR=1.98; 95%CI: 1.06, 3.69), and lack of physical exercise habit (AOR=4.03; 95%CI: 1.90, 8.57) significantly associated with total bilirubin abnormality. CONCLUSION: In this study, patients with liver disease had substantial liver function test abnormalities. Viral hepatitis associated to rising only ALT, while ALD only associated with the increment of AST. Patients having a transfusion history, lacking physical activity, and lack of vegetable associate with rising bilirubin. Therefore, clinicians should consider these factors in the management and treatment of liver disease patients.