Management of chronic liver disease by general practitioners in Southern Italy: Unmet educational needs

Patterns of service utilisation within Australian hepatology clinics: high prevalence of advanced liver disease

“…However, it is also likely that these liver diseases were under‐recognised in the community, prior to development of advanced liver disease. A number of studies has found that primary care clinicians and non‐liver specialists underestimate the prevalence of NAFLD both in the general population and in high‐risk patients . Similarly, less than one‐quarter of patients seen in general practice and less than 50% of hospital in‐patients are routinely asked about alcohol use.…”

Chronic alcoholics retain dyspeptic symptoms, pan‐enteric dysmotility, and autonomic neuropathy before and after abstinence

“…Therefore, particular attention should be given to alcohol‐related symptoms, which often overlap with misleading causes of diseases and might represent unexpected aberrant effects of many drugs . In spite of such high impacts, alcohol abuse is not properly investigated by physicians …”

“…4 In spite of such high impacts, alcohol abuse is not properly investigated by physicians. 5 Risk drinking implies an average of ≥15 standard drinks (a standard drink containing 14 g ethanol) per week or ≥5 on a single occasion (men) and ≥8 drinks weekly or ≥4 on a single occasion (women) and people over 65 years old. 6 Excess ethanol consumption is associated with impaired function of the entire gastrointestinal (GI) tract, 7 having negative effects on GI motility both in vivo and in vitro.…”

Awareness and opinions of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease by hospital specialists

“…10 A survey of community GPs in Italy demonstrated a relatively low level of awareness of NAFLD. 12 Current awareness of NAFLD by hospital specialists (other than gastroenterologists/hepatologists) and their opinions regarding management has not been studied. 11 Analysis of data recorded by a representative sample of GPs identified a relatively low level of documentation of alcohol consumption, body mass index (BMI) and liver ultrasonography in subjects with suspected chronic liver disease, clinical information required for a presumptive diagnosis of NAFLD.…”