ROUTINE FOLLOW-UP MONITORING OF OUT-PATIENTS WITH VIRUS-ASSOCIATED LIVER CIRRHOSIS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC PERIOD
Abstract
Background. Liver cirrhosis (LC) is the end stage of a number of chronic liver diseases, at least half of the cases being due to chronic viral hepatitis B and C. Higher morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 have been proven in patients with cirrhosis. Poor access to routine follow-up monitoring in many countries during the Covid-19 pandemic period has negatively impacted LC (including virus-associated one) prognosis.
Objective. To evaluate the effectiveness of routine follow-up monitoring of patients with virus-associated LC in Gomel during the COVID-19 pandemic period.
Material and methods. 127 medical records of outpatients with virus-associated LC registered at the Gomel Central City Clinical Polyclinic over 2020-2021 were analyzed. Markers of hepatitis C virus infection were detected in 92.1%, those of hepatitis B virus infection - in 7.9% of the patients.
Results. 38.6% of the patients underwent a complete follow-up examination, 48.8% had an incomplete one, 12.6% did not attend it. Those having skipped the examination were more likely to consult a doctor because of physical complaints (χ2=9.77, p=0.002), 32.3% of them being hospitalized. The total number of examined patients with class A cirrhosis (according to the Child-Pugh score) accounted for 26%, those with class B - to 44%, with class C – to 49%.
Conclusions. It is necessary to provide LC patients with comprehensive follow-up monitoring even during the COVID-19 pandemic period.
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