Nutritional Assessment of Liver Cirrhosis Patients Visiting Public Hospital, Lahore

Abstract

Cirrhosis is defined as the development of regenerative nodules surrounded by fibrous bands and inflammation of liver, which can cause portal hypertension or hepatic insufficiency that causes jaundice, hepatic encephalopathy or various complications. The important function of liver is to maintain the body metabolic homeostasis. It also helps in protein, carbohydrate, and fat metabolism, due to which the diet of a person is fully affected Objective: To assess the nutritional status of liver cirrhosis patients, visiting Public Hospitals, Lahore Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital Lahore, for a period of 4 months and 100 patients of liver cirrhosis were selected by non-probability convenient sampling to conduct the study. Results: Of total 100 patients, 53% were males and 47% were females. The mean of age, body mass index and calories intake were (53.17±18.414), (19.12±4.743) and (544.88±437.195). Out of 100 patients only 7% of the patients were nourished, 58% are malnourished, and 35% patients were severely malnourished. Mostly patients were malnourished and lost weight due to disease. The mean BMI of patients was19.12±4.743, which shows that mostly patients were malnourished and undernourished. Sarcopenia was common in patients suffering from liver cirrhosis.  Conclusions:  Cirrhosis is complication of liver disease that involves loss of liver cells and irreversible scarring of the liver. It is more prevalent in males as compared to females.