Diabetes and Hepatopathy: Epidemiological and Clinical Profile in the Internal Medicine Department of CHU Donka

Abstract

Introduction: The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics of patients with coexistence of diabetes and liver disease in the internal medicine department of Donka University Hospital. Diabetes is defined as chronic hyperglycemia resulting from genetic and environmental phenomena. Chronic liver disease is a disease of the liver that persists over a long period of time. According to the WHO, diabetes is one of the four non-communicable diseases targeted along with cardiovascular diseases, cancers and respiratory diseases. Viral infections, particularly hepatitis B and C, are common causes of liver disease, affecting approximately 325 million people worldwide. Methods: It was a study descriptive type prospective study lasting 15 months from March 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. We have included all patients admitted for chronic liver disease on the grounds of known diabetes or incidental discovery whose age ≥ 18 years, regardless of gender, from any origin managed in the internal medicine department, with diagnostic criteria blood glucose ≥ 1.26 g/l [7 mmol/l] on two occasions after fasting for more than 8 hours, or venous blood glucose at any time of the day ≥ 2 g/l [11.1 mmol/l] with signs of hyperglycemia or blood glucose 2 hours after a glucose load (OGTT at 75 g of glucose) ≥ 2 g/l [11.1 mmol/l], HbAlc ≥ 6.5 after eliminating hemoglobinopathies and having given verbal consent. Results : Out of 809 hospitalized patients, 50 patients had liver disease associated with diabetes. The mean age of the patients was 54.7 years with extremes of 25 and 95 years. The male sex was predominant with a sex ratio of 1.24. Asthenia was the main sign of diabetes encountered and the main signs of liver disease were lower limb edema and jaundice. The main complication of diabetes was dominated by strokes (36%) and liver diseases: gastrointestinal bleeding and hepatic encephalopathy. Conclusion: The prevalence of the association of diabetes and liver disease was not negligible during our study. Emphasis should be placed on strengthening early detection of diabetes and liver disease and appropriate management.