Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease related knowledge among a sample of Egyptians: an exploratory cross-sectional study.

Introduction: The global prevalence of Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is about 25% worldwide making it an actual health disaster. This study aimed to assess non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)-related knowledge in a sample of Egyptians. Materials and methods: This exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted on 3,124 individuals using 2000 online and 1,124 printed questionnaire forms. These questionnaires, covering sociodemographic characteristics and fatty liver-related knowledge, comprised 30 items. These items include ten questions on definition, symptoms, and complications: 14 about risk factors, and six about prevention and therapy. The data were analyzed using SPSS. Categorical variables were expressed in proportions and percentages. Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were applied as appropriate. For quantitative variables, the t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and ANOVA test were used for comparisons. Results: A total of 3,124 respondents were enrolled in the current study. More than half (57%) were females, and 25% ranged in age from 18 to 29. 10.8% of the participants believed that fatty liver patients were asymptomatic, and 34% knew that fatty liver disease was caused by fat accumulation. Regarding predisposing factors, hypercholesterolemia, increased fat in the diet, and obesity had the highest proportion of accurate responses (60, 54, and 46.6%, respectively). On the other hand, 89.3% believed it could be prevented, and 81.4% of the respondents knew that weight reduction could prevent the condition. All respondents (100%) stated wrongly that it was a familial disease related to aging, and most participants (97.3%) did not believe that fatty liver could be treated. Females demonstrated a significantly higher score in preventive measures, while the employed participants scored significantly higher in general knowledge of fatty liver, risk factors, and preventive measures. Conclusion: Despite the increasing NAFLD prevalence, the current study indicated that Egyptians had fair to moderate knowledge about fatty liver and its risk factors, preventive measures, and therapy. However, a false belief was documented by all respondents that it is a disease that runs in families and occurs only in old age. A fundamental shift in healthcare management with a prioritization of prevention, proactive measures, and early detection of NAFLD should be emphasized.

Assessment of facility performance during mass treatment of chronic hepatitis C in Egypt: Enablers and obstacles.

BACKGROUND: The national committee for control of viral hepatitis (NCCVH) in Egypt, settled by the Ministry of health, treated over one million patients in around 60 centers with chronological changes in drug combinations. This research aims to study the health care facilities and services provided by NCCVH treatment centers in Egypt and explore hinders faced. METHODS: A cross-sectional operational research study. Multistage random sampling technique was applied for Egyptian governorates. From each stratum one governorate was chosen from which one center was randomly selected. Quality of recorded data for each center in the central server (Data-oriented parameter), newly designed score to assess the overall performance of the centers was retrieved from computer based recording system. A self-administered questionnaire was completed by the centers head. RESULTS: This study included 24 treatment centers from urban, rural areas, Upper and Lower Egypt. The Upper centers showed the best completeness of follow-up records and the least compliance rates. None of the centers had 100% completeness of follow-up data. Proportion of SVR is minimally less than proportion of patient with known outcome in all treatment centers. A novel indicator standardizing the comparisons of performance of different facilities was introduced: Total number of physicians/total number of SVR patients with completed records. The highest response rate: Monfiya Governorate (Lower Egypt), Aswan (Upper Egypt), Completeness of follow-up records: Kalyoubia (Lower Egypt), Sohag governorate (Upper Egypt). The average administrative score was 64%. CONCLUSION: Challenges of NCCVH program: overcrowdings, resistant sociocultural background among rural patients, limited accessibility for internal migrants and incompleteness of data entry are system lacking points. Strengths include, clear patient pathway, well-established database online application, well-trained physicians and treatment availability.

Helicobacter pylori seropositivity in patients with hyperemesis gravidarum.

BACKGROUND: Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy are the most common conditions affecting pregnancy, occurring in about 80% of all pregnancies and always disappearing on the 16th to 18th weeks of gestation. This may be mild and it does not affect the general condition of the patient (the condition is called emesis gravidarum), or it may be severe enough to affect the patient physically and psychologically, causing intractable vomiting, electrolyte imbalance, weight loss >5%, impairment of liver and kidney functions and dehydration. Helicobacter pylori is one of the most common bacterium affecting humans. It is a gram-negative helix-shaped microaerophilic bacterium transmitted by the oro-oral or feco-oral route. It is more prevalent in developing countries and affects young children. Acute infection manifests as acute gastritis and stomach pain, whereas chronic infection causes chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer, 2% of which may develop into stomach cancer. The authors tried to investigate the association between H pylori infection and hyperemesis gravidarum. METHODS: Fifty patients with hyperemesis gravidarum and 50 patients with normal pregnancy were included in the study. H pylori infection was determined using a 1-step H pylori test device (serum/plasma), which is a qualitative membrane-based immunoassay. RESULTS: Regarding maternal age, gestational age and socioeconomic status, there is no statistical difference between both groups. There is a marked statistical difference between both groups in terms of Helicobacter pylori seropositivity and frequency of vomiting. CONCLUSIONS: There is a powerful correlation between H pylori and hyperemesis gravidarum.