Characteristics of Patients with Liver Cirrhosis Attending Azadi Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology-Duhok Kurdistan Region

Background and objectives: Diagnosis of liver cirrhosis is made histologically, yet patients can present with clinical and laboratory features suggestive of end-stage liver disease and cirrhosis. The aim was to identify the causes, severity, and complications. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from March-October 2023 in the Azadi Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology in Duhok and included 205 cases. Demographic information was taken from the patients. Then patients were examined and sent to baseline and relevant investigations. A liver biopsy was done in selected patients. Results: The mean age of the patients was 52.4 ± 13.1. years. Males were (57.6%), and non-smokers were (68.3%). Furthermore, (64.4%) of the patients had Anorexia, (52.7%) had weight loss, (46.8%) had fever, and (43.4%) had abdominal pain. Upper endoscopic findings revealed varices in (48.8%), Portal Hypertensive Gastropathy (13.17%), Gastric Antral Vascular Ectasia (8.8%) and erosive gastritis in (3.41%). The metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (31.22%), hepatitis B (15.61%), cryptogenic (11.22%), and hepatitis C (5.37%) were the most common types. Regarding the severity, chronic liver disease stage B was the most prevalent type (57.56%) and then type A was (21.46%). The mean scores of the Child-Pugh and the model of end stage liver disease-Sodium score were 8.05 and 18.19, respectively, which are statistically significant. Conclusion: Ascites and esophageal varices as a complication on presentation implies a delay in the presentation and diagnosis alongside under screening for liver cirrhosis. Metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease plays a major role as an underlying cause.