Highlights
- •Alcohol-related CLD prevails in North/Central Italy (N/C) (p < .001).
- •HBV-CLD and HCV-CLD prevail in South Italy/Sicily/Sardinia (SI/S/S) (p = .02; p < .001)
- •Differences in aetiology were stable over time.
- •Cirrhosis was diagnosed more frequently in SI/S/S than in N/C (p < .01).
- •The proportion of cirrhosis increased overtime in N/C (p < .01) and SI/S/S (p < .01).
Abstract
Background
The information on the geographical characteristics of chronic liver diseases (CLD)
in Italy is out-dated.
Aim
To provide up-dated information on the geographical pattern of patients with CLD born
in Italy.
Methods
Patients with CLD were enrolled in two national surveys performed in 2001 and 2014,
which prospectively recruited subjects aged ≥18 years referring to Italian liver units
located throughout the country that apply a similar clinical approach and analytical
methods.
Results
The total number of patients enrolled was 11,676. Alcohol-related CLD was more frequently
observed in northern/central areas (25.0% vs. 20.7%, p < .001), while HBV-related
(15.4% vs. 13.3%, p = .02) and HCV-related (71.2% vs. 67.1%, p < .001) CLD prevailed
in southern areas/main islands (Sicily and Sardinia). These differences were stable
over time. Liver cirrhosis without HCC was diagnosed more frequently in southern area/islands
than in northern/central areas (23.7% vs. 18.8%, p < .01). Moreover, an increased
proportion over time of patients with cirrhosis without HCC was observed both in northern/central
areas (17.3% vs. 27.4%, p < .01) and in southern area/islands (22.6% vs. 27.9%, p < .01).
Conclusions
These up-dated findings show different geographical patterns of CLD in Italy, reflecting
different behavioural habits and socio-economic conditions across the country. They
may be useful to apply more adequate preventive measures and to allocate economic
resources.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: October 22, 2018
Accepted:
October 16,
2018
Received:
October 9,
2018
Identification
Copyright
© 2018 European Federation of Internal Medicine. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
