Effectiveness of Nutritional Support on Clinical Outcomes of Patients with Hepatitis C Virus

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Medical-Surgical Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing-Ain Shams University

2 Therapeutic Nutrition Department, Ain Shams University Hospital, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis C virus is a major cause of acute and chronic liver disease worldwide. Therefore,
it is vitally important that patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) try to maintain a balanced diet
with adequate daily caloric, protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins, minerals and fluids. Eating well can
become more of a challenge as liver disease progresses. Aim of the study was to evaluate the
effectiveness of nutritional support on clinical outcomes of patients with hepatitis C virus. Research
design: A quasi-experimental research design was used. Subjects: A purposeful sample of 120 adult
patients was selected according to inclusion criteria and randomly divided alternatively into two equal
groups and assessed at three visits; 60 in each group: Study group (I) received nutritional support as
prescribed by the treating physician. Control group (II) received an ordinary hospital diet. Setting: The
study was conducted in the clinic of Liver Disease at Ain Shams university hospital. Tools: Two tools
were utilized for data collection. First tool was Hepatitis C virus Patients nutritional assessment and the
second tool was Hepatitis C Patient's Clinical outcome: Results: the result indicates decreasing in daily
caloric intake which is significant in one-month post instructions (P=0.000) and three months post
instructions (P=0.000) comparing with base line. There was a positive relation between incidence and
severity of the complications and nutritional support of studied patients in relation to daily dietary intake
than control group. Conclusion: There was improved score of Child Pugh Scale in the study group than
control group at base line, one- and three-month post diet regimen. The nutritional support has a positive
impact on incidence and severity of complications of studied patients. Recommendations: Diet for
patients with hepatitis C should be prescribed individually based on total caloric requirement. Manual
guidelines about allowed nutritional support of patients with hepatitis C should be available to every
nurse caring for patientsin liver disease unit.

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