Prevalence and Determinants of Glucose Abnormalities among Patients with Chronic Liver Disease in Alexandria, Egypt

Abstract

Background: The term Chronic liver disease (CLD) encompasses a large number of conditions existing on a continuum between hepatitis infection and cirrhosis. Chronic hepatitis C infection was found to be associated with diabetes mellitus (DM) with a significantly higher prevalence than the prevalence in the general population. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence and determinants of glucose abnormalities among patients with CLD in Alexandria, Egypt. Methods: Over a period of two years, 264 consecutive patients with CLD referred to the Hepatology and Gastroenterology Unit, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University were enrolled in the study. Personal, demographic and medical histories were obtained by interviewing each patient and reviewing his/her records. Clinical examination for each patient was also performed. Complete blood picture, fasting blood glucose level and lipid profile, liver profile and imaging were recorded. Serological and/or immunological markers identifying the etiology of CLD were also recorded. Results: The prevalence of glucose abnormalities among hepatitis C positive patients was higher than that among patients with other CLD (39.2% versus 21.7% respectively), with a statistically significant difference. Three independent risk factors were found to be significantly affecting the prevalence of glucose abnormalities among CLD patients; namely etiology of liver disease, presence of fatty liver and total cholesterol level. Conclusion: The present study indicates a high prevalence of DM in patients with CLD in Alexandria. It is therefore imperative that patients with CLD especially chronic hepatitis C patients be screened periodically for glucose intolerance.

Keywords

• chronic liver disease
• diabetes mellitus
• impaired fasting glucose
• hepatitis c