title: [Causes of death in a sample of cirrhotic patients from Madagascar].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cirrhotic patients have poorer life expectancy than the general population. The purpose of this study was to identify causes of death in a sample of cirrhotic patients from Madagascar.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analytic and descriptive study was conducted on the files of cirrhotic inpatients admitted to the gastroenterology department of the Joseph Raseta Befelatanana University Hospital Center in Antananarivo, Madagascar from January 1, 2003 to June 30, 2007.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The files of 117 patients were reviewed. Death occurred in 31 cases for a mortality rate of 26.5%. The main causes of death were disorders of consciousness (51.6%) and hypovolemic shock (25.8%). Jaundice, encephalopathy, and gastrointestinal bleeding were predictive factors for mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cirrhotic patients in this study were hospitalized at a late stage of disease. Further prospective study in a larger sample will be needed to standardize the management protocol in Madagascar.
authors.affiliation: Service de gastroentérologie, hôpital Joseph Raseta Befelatanana, Centre hospitalier universitaire, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Razafimahefa
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Rabenjanahary
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Rakotoarivelo
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ramilitiana
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Ramanampamonjy
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Rajaona
mesh_terms: D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000401:mortality; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality*; D008270:Madagascar / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged