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Table 6 Current diagnostic practices of physicians and coded differences as defined by physicians who diagnose NASH

From: Awareness of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and associated practice patterns of primary care physicians and specialists

 

PCPs

n = 152

Specialists

n = 150

P

Does the physician diagnose NASH?

 Yes

50 (34)

146 (97)

<0.001

Coded responses from physicians who diagnose NASH

n = 50

n = 146

 

 Generalized differences (NET)

21 (42)

10 (7)

<0.001

  NASH is more severe than NAFLD

13 (26)

7 (5)

<0.001

  General differences in fat deposition

3 (6)

1 (1)

0.048

  NASH characterized by a rise in liver enzymes

6 (12)

2 (1)

0.004

Thought they were the same

6 (12)

0 (0)

<0.001

NASH associated with excess alcohol intake

2 (4)

3 (2)

0.272

NAFLD involves no inflammation of the liver

12 (24)

100 (69)

<0.001

Rise in liver function tests is associated with NASH and not NAFLD

5 (10)

11 (8)

0.192

Rise in liver function tests is associated with both NASH and NAFLD

4 (8)

5 (3)

0.122

Increase of fat in the liver is associated with both NASH and NAFLD

9 (18)

41 (28)

0.158

Histologic features (NET)

9 (18)

75 (51)

<0.001

 NASH is diagnosed via a liver biopsy

1 (2)

20 (14)

0.012

 Presence of ballooning indicates NASH

0 (0)

10 (7)

0.048

 Differences in levels of fibrosis/scarring/cirrhosis indicates NASH

8 (16)

45 (31)

0.042

NASH involves damage to the liver

5 (10)

16 (11)

0.208

Not sure of the differences

18 (36)

1 (1)

<0.001

  1. Numbers indicate the number of respondents (percentage of total respondents)
  2. The results in italics above are the individual items that qualify to be counted towards the corresponding NET categories above them. In other words, physicians who mentioned more than one of the items in italics is counted only once in the NET category above it