Magnitude, patterns, and factors associated with liver disease among clinically suspected clients in Eastern Ethiopia: hidden public health tragedy

Abstract Background Liver diseases are a public health problem in developing regions, and the majority of them are asymptomatic. Evidence on the current burden of liver disease and associated context-specific risk factors is scarce in the study area, where various risk factors for liver disease, inc...

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Main Authors: Aliya Nuri, Sufian Jeilu, Yared Teklu, Kadir Abdu, Ahmed Muhye, Milkiyas Solomon Getachew, Imam Dagne, Muluken Yigezu, Sewmehon Amsalu Adugna, Vanisha S. Nambiar, Abdu Oumer
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Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-01-01
Series:BMC Gastroenterology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-025-03628-1
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author Aliya Nuri
Sufian Jeilu
Yared Teklu
Kadir Abdu
Ahmed Muhye
Milkiyas Solomon Getachew
Imam Dagne
Muluken Yigezu
Sewmehon Amsalu Adugna
Vanisha S. Nambiar
Abdu Oumer
author_facet Aliya Nuri
Sufian Jeilu
Yared Teklu
Kadir Abdu
Ahmed Muhye
Milkiyas Solomon Getachew
Imam Dagne
Muluken Yigezu
Sewmehon Amsalu Adugna
Vanisha S. Nambiar
Abdu Oumer
author_sort Aliya Nuri
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Liver diseases are a public health problem in developing regions, and the majority of them are asymptomatic. Evidence on the current burden of liver disease and associated context-specific risk factors is scarce in the study area, where various risk factors for liver disease, including khat chewing, smoking, and aflatoxin exposure, are common. This study was to assess the magnitude, patterns, and factors associated with liver disease among patients visiting governmental hospitals in eastern Ethiopia. Methods A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly selected 388 clinically suspected adults for liver disease visiting a public hospital in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia. Data was collected using a combination of structured questionnaires, physical examinations, and investigations through interviews, medical chart reviews, liver enzymes, and the results of ultrasound examinations. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were employed to determine the factors associated with liver disease. Candidate variables in bivariable analysis were selected based on p-values < 0.25, biological plausibility, and evidence of associations from previous studies. The level of significance was considered at a P-value < 0.05, and the adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval was reported. Results A total of 388 (92%) adults were included and liver disease was diagnosed among 295 (76%; 71.5–80.2) of the study participants, where chronic liver disease due to non-viral (65.1%) and viral causes (34.9%) were prevalent. The risk of liver disease was higher among females (AOR = 3.43; 1.80–6.55) and under grade twelve (AOR = 3.90; 1.95–7.82) compared to counterparts. Furthermore, alcohol consumption (AOR = 3.14; 1.33–7.32), khat chewing (AOR = 1.69; 0.91–3.15), a history of hospitalization (AOR = 4.20; 2.29–7.11), and a history of intestinal parasite infection (AOR = 1.17; 0.55–2.49) were found to be positively associated with an increased risk of liver disease among adults. Conclusions Liver disease detection rate was found to be high and could be associated with substance use (alcohol and khat), history of hospitalization, and worm infection, which can be incorporated into the prevention strategies of liver diseases.
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spelling doaj-art-d83bb84aab094ae7a80a12982c87494c2025-01-26T12:36:17ZengBMCBMC Gastroenterology1471-230X2025-01-0125111210.1186/s12876-025-03628-1Magnitude, patterns, and factors associated with liver disease among clinically suspected clients in Eastern Ethiopia: hidden public health tragedyAliya Nuri0Sufian Jeilu1Yared Teklu2Kadir Abdu3Ahmed Muhye4Milkiyas Solomon Getachew5Imam Dagne6Muluken Yigezu7Sewmehon Amsalu Adugna8Vanisha S. Nambiar9Abdu Oumer10Department of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dire Dawa UniversityDepartment of Internal Medicine, Sabian General HospitalSchool of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dire Dawa UniversityDepartment of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, Oda Bultum UniversityDepartment of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dire Dawa UniversityDepartment of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dire Dawa UniversityDepartment of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dire Dawa UniversityDepartment of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dire Dawa UniversityDepartment of Midwifery, College of Health Sciences, Oda Bultum UniversityDepartment of Foods and Nutrition, Faculty of Family and Community Sciences, the Maharaja Sayajirao University of BarodaDepartment of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dire Dawa UniversityAbstract Background Liver diseases are a public health problem in developing regions, and the majority of them are asymptomatic. Evidence on the current burden of liver disease and associated context-specific risk factors is scarce in the study area, where various risk factors for liver disease, including khat chewing, smoking, and aflatoxin exposure, are common. This study was to assess the magnitude, patterns, and factors associated with liver disease among patients visiting governmental hospitals in eastern Ethiopia. Methods A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly selected 388 clinically suspected adults for liver disease visiting a public hospital in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia. Data was collected using a combination of structured questionnaires, physical examinations, and investigations through interviews, medical chart reviews, liver enzymes, and the results of ultrasound examinations. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were employed to determine the factors associated with liver disease. Candidate variables in bivariable analysis were selected based on p-values < 0.25, biological plausibility, and evidence of associations from previous studies. The level of significance was considered at a P-value < 0.05, and the adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval was reported. Results A total of 388 (92%) adults were included and liver disease was diagnosed among 295 (76%; 71.5–80.2) of the study participants, where chronic liver disease due to non-viral (65.1%) and viral causes (34.9%) were prevalent. The risk of liver disease was higher among females (AOR = 3.43; 1.80–6.55) and under grade twelve (AOR = 3.90; 1.95–7.82) compared to counterparts. Furthermore, alcohol consumption (AOR = 3.14; 1.33–7.32), khat chewing (AOR = 1.69; 0.91–3.15), a history of hospitalization (AOR = 4.20; 2.29–7.11), and a history of intestinal parasite infection (AOR = 1.17; 0.55–2.49) were found to be positively associated with an increased risk of liver disease among adults. Conclusions Liver disease detection rate was found to be high and could be associated with substance use (alcohol and khat), history of hospitalization, and worm infection, which can be incorporated into the prevention strategies of liver diseases.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-025-03628-1Liver diseasePatternsChronic liver diseaseHepatitisEthiopia
spellingShingle Aliya Nuri
Sufian Jeilu
Yared Teklu
Kadir Abdu
Ahmed Muhye
Milkiyas Solomon Getachew
Imam Dagne
Muluken Yigezu
Sewmehon Amsalu Adugna
Vanisha S. Nambiar
Abdu Oumer
Magnitude, patterns, and factors associated with liver disease among clinically suspected clients in Eastern Ethiopia: hidden public health tragedy
BMC Gastroenterology
Liver disease
Patterns
Chronic liver disease
Hepatitis
Ethiopia
title Magnitude, patterns, and factors associated with liver disease among clinically suspected clients in Eastern Ethiopia: hidden public health tragedy
title_full Magnitude, patterns, and factors associated with liver disease among clinically suspected clients in Eastern Ethiopia: hidden public health tragedy
title_fullStr Magnitude, patterns, and factors associated with liver disease among clinically suspected clients in Eastern Ethiopia: hidden public health tragedy
title_full_unstemmed Magnitude, patterns, and factors associated with liver disease among clinically suspected clients in Eastern Ethiopia: hidden public health tragedy
title_short Magnitude, patterns, and factors associated with liver disease among clinically suspected clients in Eastern Ethiopia: hidden public health tragedy
title_sort magnitude patterns and factors associated with liver disease among clinically suspected clients in eastern ethiopia hidden public health tragedy
topic Liver disease
Patterns
Chronic liver disease
Hepatitis
Ethiopia
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-025-03628-1
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