Recent challenges facing patients with preexisting chronic liver disease in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABSTRACT: COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a growing number of beds in common hospital wards and intensive care units being occupied by COVID-19 patients and the majority of medical and nursing staff being dedicated to their care. The present review summarizes the impact of COVID-19 on patients with underlying chronic liver diseases (CLD). Deferrals of all non-urgent activities in healthcare facilities, including a decrease in liver-clinic visits for patients with CLD, inadequate hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance, and postponement of liver transplant activities are the most important consequences. Delays in viral hepatitis elimination programs were also reported, leading to future development of advanced CLD and HCC. Patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and C without cirrhosis are not

SUBMITTER: Mani I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8375661 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep-Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature