Journal of Nutrition & Food Sciences
Open Access

Abstract

Dietary Habits of Patients with Liver Cirrhosis in Kashmir Valley

Tahira Sidiq, Nilofer Khan, Feroz Ahmad Wani, Abdul Majid Ganai and Bilal Ahmad

Objective: To determine life style and dietary habits of liver cirrhotic patients. Study Design: Prospective cross-sectional observational study. Methodology: This study was carried out on the outpatients and hospitalized patients in Gastroenterology Department of SKIMS Soura and SMHS hospital Srinagar. This study was approved by the Departmental Research Committee of Institute of Home Science University of Kashmir Srinagar. Consecutive patients with compensated cirrhosis were enrolled between the study periods of 2014-2015. Demographic data, level of education, smoking and dietary habits related information was collected from the selected respondents. Results: Out of the 500 cirrhotic patients, 60% were from rural area and 40% were from urban area, 73.8% were males and 26.2% were females. Smoking habit was prevalent in 45.8% rural and 33.4% urban studied respondents. Alcohol consumption was present in 14.2% respondents. Non-alcoholic fatty liver was predominating cause of liver disease in Kashmir valley. It was observed that majority of the respondents i.e., (69.33% rural and 72% urban) males and (25% rural and 26.5% urban) females were using spicy foods. Majority i.e., 93.32% (70.66% males and 22.66% females) of rural respondents consumed smoked meat and fish. Conclusion: Both rural and urban respondents have improper knowledge and perception of diet in cirrhosis. Patients with cirrhosis have sedentary life style and faulty dietary practices which affects in the management of the disease.