Stigmatization is common in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and correlates with quality of life
Carol, Marta (Universitat de Barcelona)
Pérez-Guasch, Martina (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas)
Solà, Elsa (Universitat de Barcelona)
Cervera, Marta (Universitat de Barcelona)
Martínez, Sara (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas)
Juanola, Adrià (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas)
Ma, Ann T. (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas)
Avitabile, Emma (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas)
Napoleone, Laura (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas)
Pose, Elisa (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas)
Graupera, Isabel (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas)
Honrubia Pérez, María (Universitat de Barcelona)
Korenjak, Marko (European Liver Patients Association (Bèlgica))
Torres, Ferran (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Pediatria, Obstetrícia i Ginecologia i Medicina Preventiva i Salut Pública)
Ginès, Pere (Universitat de Barcelona)
Fabrellas, Núria (Universitat de Barcelona. Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut)

Data:	2022
Resum:	Stigmatization is a well-documented problem of some diseases. Perceived stigma is common in alcohol-related liver disease and hepatitis C, but little information exists on stigma in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Aim of the study was to investigate frequency and characteristics of perceived stigma among patients with NAFLD. One-hundred and ninety-seven patients seen at the liver clinic were included: a study group of 144 patients with NAFLD, 50 with cirrhosis (34 compensated, 16 decompensated), and a control group of 53 patients with alcohol-related cirrhosis. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected. Quality-of-life was assessed by chronic liver disease questionnaire (CLDQ). Perceived stigma was assessed using a specific questionnaire for patients with liver diseases categorized in 4 domains: stereotypes, discrimination, shame, and social isolation. Perceived stigma was common in patients with NAFLD (99 patients, 69%) and affected all 4 domains assessed. The frequency was slightly higher, yet not significant, in patients with NAFLD cirrhosis vs those without (72% vs 67%, respectively; p = 0. 576). In patients without cirrhosis perceived stigma was unrelated to stage of disease, since frequency was similar in patients with no or mild fibrosis compared to those with moderate/severe fibrosis (66% vs 68%, respectively). There were no differences in perceived stigma between patients with compensated cirrhosis and these with decompensated cirrhosis. Among patients with cirrhosis, stigmatization was more common in alcohol-related vs NAFLD-cirrhosis, yet differences were only significant in two domains. In patients with NAFLD, perceived stigma correlated with poor quality-of-life, but not with demographic or clinical variables. Perceived stigmatization is common among patients with NAFLD independently of disease stage, is associated with impaired quality-of-life, and may be responsible for stereotypes, discrimination, shame, and social isolation, which may affect human and social rights of affected patients.
Ajuts:	Instituto de Salud Carlos III PI18/01330 Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca 2021/SGR-01281
Drets:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Llengua:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Publicat a:	PloS one, Vol. 17 (april 2022) , ISSN 1932-6203

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265153
PMID: 35385510

14 p, 710.8 KB

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