Clinical Outcome and Demographic Profile of Ascites Patients in Tertiary Care Level Hospital, Ahmedabad

Background and Objectives: This study was aimed to know the treatment outcome and demographic profile of ascites patients in tertiary care level hospital, Ahmadabad city. Method: This is a prospective observational study, including 100 indoor patients of ascites in medicine department in Shardaben hospital from August 2014 to July 2016 over a period of 2 years. All the patients were interviewed with interview sheet, which was designed especially for this study and was filled by the author. Tools of study: The questionnaire included the personal data, detailed history of the presenting disease, past medical history, special inquire about history of jaundice, blood transfusion or alcohol consumption and drug history. Result: Out of 100 patients, 68 (68 %) had liver cirrhosis (Group-I), 11 (11 %) patients had abdominal tuberculosis, (Group-II), 7 (7 %) patients had nephrotic syndrome, (Group-III), 6 (6 %) patients had cardiac ascites (Group-IV), and 4 (4 %) cases of malignant ascites (Group-V).4 (4 %) patients were in (Group-VI), out of them two had biliary ascites. Interpretation and conclusion: From the findings of this study we can draw the following conclusions: 1.Ascites is more common in middle age group of patients and it is more common in males compared to females. 2.The most common clinical presentations of adult patients with ascites are abdominal distension, abdominal pain and pedal edema with a mean duration of symptoms of three months. 3.Among laboratory investigations, most of patients found to have anaemia and raised bilirubin. SAAG ratio is very helpful in differentiating between transudative and exudative ascites.4.The most common causes of ascites in this setting are liver cirrhosis, followed by abdominal tuberculosis and then renal, cardiac and malignant causes. Alcoholism is the most common cause of liver cirrhosis followed by hepatitis B in our study.