Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

A Comparison Of The Prevalence Of Cirrhosis In A Hispanic And Non-Hispanic Population Based On Body Mass Index, Alexa Perlick, Abaigeal Thompson, Colton Wayne, Jose Campo Maldonado, Angel Rendon

MEDI 9331 Scholarly Activities Clinical Years

Background and Significance

The obesity epidemic is a growing public health concern. In addition to the already known complications and comorbidities associated with obesity, data suggest that obesity is an independent risk factor for the development of liver disease. ^1,2 However, there is a paucity of data regarding the clinical correlation of obesity and cirrhosis in a predominantly Hispanic population. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of cirrhosis stratified by BMI in a predominately Hispanic population.

Materials and Methods

This retrospective single-centered study was approved by the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley institutional ethics …

Retrospective Study Examining Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome In Covid+ Patients, Lily Chen, Areeb Masood, Ayman Khaddam, Alyssa Chen, Ildiko Lingvay, Henry Kwang

MEDI 9331 Scholarly Activities Clinical Years

Purpose: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected millions of people all over the world with worse proven outcomes in those with certain comorbid conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and pulmonary complications. The Rio Grande Valley located in South Texas with a largely Hispanic population has been hit especially hard during this pandemic with over 3,200 virus-related deaths. This region’s high population of diabetic and obese patients is likely correlated with the especially high mortality rate. While it is understood the impact that obesity has on worsening health outcomes, further research is needed to better understand whether more adverse COVID-19 …