Dokument: Prevalence and Spectrum of Chronic Liver Disease Among Patients Seeking Health Care in Ghana
| Titel: | Prevalence and Spectrum of Chronic Liver Disease Among Patients Seeking Health Care in Ghana | |||||||
| URL für Lesezeichen: | https://docserv.uni-duesseldorf.de/servlets/DocumentServlet?id=73188 | |||||||
| URN (NBN): | urn:nbn:de:hbz:061-20260505-142758-3 | |||||||
| Kollektion: | Publikationen | |||||||
| Sprache: | Englisch | |||||||
| Dokumententyp: | Wissenschaftliche Texte » Artikel, Aufsatz | |||||||
| Medientyp: | Text | |||||||
| Autoren: | Killer, Alexander [Autor] Eberhardt, Kirsten Alexandra [Autor] Holtfreter, Martha Charlotte [Autor] Orth, Hans Martin [Autor] Luedde, Tom [Autor] Feldt, Torsten [Autor] Lehmann, Felix [Autor] Wels, Sarah [Autor] Schmiedel, Stefan [Autor] Phillips, Richard Odame [Autor] | |||||||
| Dateien: |
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| Stichwörter: | transient elastography , chronic liver disease , viral hepatitis , Ghana , hepatitis B virus | |||||||
| Beschreibung: | Background:
Chronic liver diseases (CLD) leading to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa and pose a significant burden on its health care systems. We aimed to elucidate the prevalence of fibrosis/ cirrhosis in patients seeking health care in Kumasi, Ghana, and its underlying aetiologies. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we performed sonography, transient elastography as well as biochemical and virological analyses. Results: Transient elastography indicated fibrosis/cirrhosis in 24.5% (113/461) of participants. Liver cirrhosis was significantly associated with known hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, lack of formal education, hospitalisation, and male sex. Prevalence of active hepatitis B was significantly higher in patients with liver cirrhosis compared to controls (54.6% [30/55] vs. 17.1% [19/111]), as was anti-HBc (94.6% [52/55] vs. 80.2% [89/111]). CLD was mainly attributed to HBV (27.3%, 30/110), alcohol abuse (11.8%, 13/110), a combination of both (10.9%, 12/110), and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) (20%, 22/110). Antiviral treatment was indicated in 24 patients with active hepatitis B (number-needed-to-screen: 19.2). Hepatitis C and D viruses were of minor importance (2.7% [3/110] and 0.9% [1/110], respectively). Conclusions: We found a high prevalence of CLD, predominantly caused by HBV, MASLD and alcohol. We confirmed the use of transient elastography as a non-invasive and easily applicable tool in resource-limited settings. Our findings underscore the need for systematic screening of hospitalised patients, especially men, in sub- Saharan Africa. Comprehensive screening, treatment, vaccination and prevention programs for HBV, as the leading cause of chronic liver disease, are warranted. | |||||||
| Rechtliche Vermerke: | Originalveröffentlichung:
Lehmann, F., Killer, A., Wels, S., Schmiedel, S., Phillips, R. O., Roppert, P. L., Eberhardt, K. A., Holtfreter, M. C. S., Stauga, S., Lohse, A. W., Ehrhardt, S., Opare‐Sem, O., Orth, H. M., Sarfo, F. S., Drosten, C., Eis‐Hübinger, A. M., Lüdde, T., Glebe, D., Drexler, J. F., … Feldt, T. (2026). Prevalence and Spectrum of Chronic Liver Disease Among Patients Seeking Health Care in Ghana. Liver International, 46(3), Article e70538. https://doi.org/10.1111/liv.70538 | |||||||
| Lizenz: |  Dieses Werk ist lizenziert unter einer Creative Commons Namensnennung 4.0 International Lizenz | |||||||
| Fachbereich / Einrichtung: | Medizinische Fakultät | |||||||
| Dokument erstellt am: | 05.05.2026 | |||||||
| Dateien geändert am: | 05.05.2026 |
