Aku Study: Malnutrition sets in early in Hepatitis C

People with Hepatitis C or a relative suffering from it should be really careful about malnutrition which sets in early and progresses relentlessly, experts have noted in a recently published paper.

Researchers from the department of medicine at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi published their findings from a 400-patient study in the Journal of the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan’s March 2012 issue.

The study was conducted at AKU’s out-patients clinics from October 2009 to January 2011. It assessed the nutritional status of patients at all stages with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) or liver disease. Healthy controls were used as well. Almost 98 per cent of all patients were malnourished in the decompensated cirrhotics group.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 21^st, 2012.