DISEASE PATTERNS AND IN-HOSPITAL OUTCOMES IN A TERTIARY-CARE GASTROENTEROLOGY WARD IN SOUTH PUNJAB, PAKISTAN: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
Keywords:
Gastroenterology; Hospitalisation; Liver Cirrhosis; Hepatocellular Carcinoma; Gastrointestinal Haemorrhage; Hospital Mortality; Pakistan; South PunjabAbstract
Background: Gastroenterology wards of tertiary hospitals cater to a wide range of gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary diseases, but there is limited ward level data regarding disease pattern and hospital outcome from South Punjab, Pakistan.
Objective: To describe the diagnostic spectrum, demographic profile, length of stay and in hospital outcomes of patients admitted to Gastroenterology Ward of Nishtar Hospital, Multan.
Methods: The study was a retrospective cross-sectional study, in which records of all 169 patients admitted during the period August to October 2025 were retrieved on a structured proforma. One primary diagnosis was assigned to each patient. Data were analysed descriptively in SPSS version 27, proportions are presented with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
Results: Mean age was 48.4 ± 16.4 years (range 16–87), and 103 patients (60.9%) were male. Decompensated chronic liver disease/liver cirrhosis was the most frequent diagnosis (49/169, 29.0%), followed by hepatocellular carcinoma (22, 13.0%), upper gastrointestinal bleeding (15, 8.9%) and chronic viral hepatitis (11, 6.5%). The total number of liver-related diagnosis was 92 (54.4%). The median hospital stay was 4 days (range 1-20). Overall, 124 patients (73.4%) were discharged, 18 (10.7%; 95% CI 6.8–16.2) died, 15 (8.9%) were referred or transferred, and 12 (7.1%) left against medical advice. The crude mortality rates were 16.3% (95% CI 8.5–29.0) for cirrhosis and 18.2% (7.3–38.5) for hepatocellular carcinoma, with 12 of the 18 deaths being liver-related.
Conclusion: Liver disease was the leading cause of admission to this tertiary gastroenterology ward and 12 of 18 deaths were attributable to liver disease, especially decompensated cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The in-hospital mortality rate was 10.7% and 7.1% of patients left against medical advice. Regional service planning requires multicentre studies which record aetiology, disease severity, endoscopic findings and treatment data.
