Health Care Centers Research Articles

Effectiveness of health education on knowledge, attitude and practice regarding junk food consumption among interns in a tertiary health care center in Chennai, India – a quasi-experimental study

Introduction and aim. Junk foods are defined as any of various pre-packaged foods that are high in calories but low in nutritional value. This study was done to evaluate the effect of health education intervention on the knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding junk food consumption among MBBS interns at the tertiary health care center in Chennai, India. Material and methods. This was a quasi-experimental study conducted from January to March 2023 among 105 CRMIs of a Government medical college in Chennai, India. After getting Institutional Ethics Committee approval, data was collected using a pretested self-administered semi structured questionnaire before and after health education intervention. Results. The majority (55.2%) of the respondent interns were hostellers. There was a significant increase in the knowledge (p<0.001), healthy attitude (p<0.001), and healthy practice (p<0.001) concerning junk food intake following health education intervention. Conclusion. Routine repeated sessions promoting health should be implemented in the medical curriculum in order for our future physicians to live a long healthy life as well as to set a good example

Expression of Survivin and Ki67 in Biopsy Proven Prostatic Carcinoma and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and its Correlation with Gleason's Score in Patients from A Tertiary Health Care Center in South Kerala

Expression of Survivin and Ki67 in Biopsy Proven Prostatic Carcinoma and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and its Correlation with Gleason's Score in Patients from A Tertiary Health Care Center in South Kerala

The Efforts Of Toddler Integrated Healthcare Center Cadres In Increasing Mother Visits To Integrated Healthcare Center Kartini Bandungrejosari Malang City

Background: One of the factors causing stunting is that the utilization rate of healthcare by mothers of toddlers in Indonesia is low, while in healthcare there is a lot of education about maintaining the health of toddlers and providing additional food for toddlers. This is proven by the average percentage of toddlers who are weighed at the healthcare is still below the target, where the target for toddlers who are weighed is 85%. There are still many healthcare that do not meet coverage shows that the role of toddler healthcare cadres in increasing mother’s visit to the healthcare less than optimal or not in accordance with their duties. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the efforts of healthcare toddler cadres in increasing maternal visits to the healthcare. Research Metodes: This study used qualitative methods and took 13 responden, consisting of 7 healthcare cadres, 5 mothers who have toddlers, and 1 health worker. Data collection techniques using interviews, observation, documentation. Data validity used is data triangulation and method triangulation. Results: The results show that the implementation of healthcare service activities is still not optimal, this is evidenced by the non-implementation of one of the healthcare service activities. Conclusion: the efforts of cadres in increasing the visit of mothers of toddlers to Healthcare Kartini in Bandungrejosari Village, Sukun Subdistrict still not implemented optimally.

Pregnancy-Related-Acute Kidney Injury in Jigawa, Nigeria

Introduction: Pregnancy-related acute kidney injury (PR-AKI) is a significant cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. Objective: This study aimed to determine the causes and outcomes of PR-AKI management. Methods: This was a two-year retrospective review of patients managed for PR-AKI between 1 October 2021 and 31 September 2023 in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Rasheed Shekoni Federal University Teaching Hospital Dutse. Patients’ data were obtained from their case files. Results: One hundred and three women were diagnosed with PR-AKI out of 1,647 admissions during the review period. The mean age of the patients was 27 7.5 years, with an age range of 15 to 48 years. The mean parity was 4.513.2 and most (47.6%) patients were grand-multipara. The majority (70.7%) booked for antenatal care in primary healthcare centres, and only 2(3.1%) booked in tertiary hospitals. The commonest cause of PRAKI was obstetric haemorrhage (48.5%), with postpartum haemorrhage and antepartum haemorrhage accounting for 72% and 28%, respectively. Seventy-five (72.8%) patients received a blood transfusion, while 28 (27.2%) had haemodialysis. Thirty-five (33.9%) deaths were recorded. Conclusion: This study revealed that PRAKI was common, and obstetric haemorrhage, hypertensive disorders and sepsis were the leading causes.

Pregnancy-Related-Acute Kidney Injury in Jigawa, Nigeria

Introduction: Pregnancy-related acute kidney injury (PR-AKI) is a significant cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. Objective: This study aimed to determine the causes and outcomes of PR-AKI management. Methods: This was a two-year retrospective review of patients managed for PR-AKI between 1 October 2021 and 31 September 2023 in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Rasheed Shekoni Federal University Teaching Hospital Dutse. Patients’ data were obtained from their case files. Results: One hundred and three women were diagnosed with PR-AKI out of 1,647 admissions during the review period. The mean age of the patients was 27 7.5 years, with an age range of 15 to 48 years. The mean parity was 4.513.2 and most (47.6%) patients were grand-multipara. The majority (70.7%) booked for antenatal care in primary healthcare centres, and only 2(3.1%) booked in tertiary hospitals. The commonest cause of PRAKI was obstetric haemorrhage (48.5%), with postpartum haemorrhage and antepartum haemorrhage accounting for 72% and 28%, respectively. Seventy-five (72.8%) patients received a blood transfusion, while 28 (27.2%) had haemodialysis. Thirty-five (33.9%) deaths were recorded. Conclusion: This study revealed that PRAKI was common, and obstetric haemorrhage, hypertensive disorders and sepsis were the leading causes.

Evaluation of T. gondii, rubella, and cytomegalovirus seroprevalences among female Syrian refugees in Sanliurfa, Turkiye.

Since the Syrian Civil War began in 2011, the official number of refugees under temporary protection in Turkiye is reported to be 3,522,036 in 2023. Most of the Syrians living outside the refugee camps have worse conditions in terms of access to healthcare centers and social opportunities, compared to those living in camps. The Sanliurfa province hosts the third highest number of Syrians (370,291) in Turkiye. There are no data about the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), rubella (rub), or cytomegalovirus (CMV) among Syrian refugees in Sanliurfa. We aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of T. gondii, rub, and CMV infections among female Syrian refugees of reproductive age (15-49 years) living in Sanliurfa province. A cross-sectional study was conducted in different districts of Sanliurfa. A total of 460 households were selected using the probability sampling method. One married female Syrian refugee aged between 15 and 49 years, was chosen in each household, leading to a sample size of 410 female Syrian refugees. The seropositivity of T. gondii, CMV, and rub IgM and IgG in blood samples were analyzed using enzyme immunoassays (Abbott Architect, Illinois, USA). The seropositivity rates of T. gondii, CMV, and rubella IgM and IgG were 4.4% and 59.8%; 3.9%; and 99%; and 1.9%, and 99.5%, respectively. A screening program should be implemented for T. gondii, CMV, and rub infections for Syrian refugees. Seronegative women should be vaccinated against rub and educated about the transmission and preventive routes of toxoplasmosis and CMV infection.

Evaluation of Outcomes Following Endovenous Laser Therapy (EVLT) for Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) on a Daycare Basis in a Tertiary Healthcare Centre of Northern India: A Prospective Cohort Study

Evaluation of Outcomes Following Endovenous Laser Therapy (EVLT) for Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) on a Daycare Basis in a Tertiary Healthcare Centre of Northern India: A Prospective Cohort Study

The Efforts Of Toddler Integrated Healthcare Center Cadres In Increasing Mother Visits To Integrated Healthcare Center Kartini Bandungrejosari Malang City

Background: One of the factors causing stunting is that the utilization rate of healthcare by mothers of toddlers in Indonesia is low, while in healthcare there is a lot of education about maintaining the health of toddlers and providing additional food for toddlers. This is proven by the average percentage of toddlers who are weighed at the healthcare is still below the target, where the target for toddlers who are weighed is 85%. There are still many healthcare that do not meet coverage shows that the role of toddler healthcare cadres in increasing mother’s visit to the healthcare less than optimal or not in accordance with their duties. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the efforts of healthcare toddler cadres in increasing maternal visits to the healthcare. Research Metodes: This study used qualitative methods and took 13 responden, consisting of 7 healthcare cadres, 5 mothers who have toddlers, and 1 health worker. Data collection techniques using interviews, observation, documentation. Data validity used is data triangulation and method triangulation. Results: The results show that the implementation of healthcare service activities is still not optimal, this is evidenced by the non-implementation of one of the healthcare service activities. Conclusion: the efforts of cadres in increasing the visit of mothers of toddlers to Healthcare Kartini in Bandungrejosari Village, Sukun Subdistrict still not implemented optimally.

Evaluation of Age-Friendliness in Primary Health Care Centers in Sulaimani Governorate, Iraq

Background: The aging of the global population has increased the demand for primary care of older adult’s health disorders. As the first point of contact for healthcare, primary care services should be accessible and adaptable to the needs of older people. This study aims to assess the age-friendliness of healthcare services at the primary healthcare centers (PHCCs) in Sulaimani Governorate, Iraq. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study included all 87 PHCCs in Sulaimani governorate (61 centers in Sulaimani city, 16 in Raparin Administration, and 10 in Garmyan Administration). In each of these health facilities, data were collected regarding the physical, architectural, and clinical age-friendliness of these centers. A modified age-friendly PHCCs toolkit was used as a tool for assessing the PHCCs, and then a scoring system was utilized to estimate the overall friendliness of the PHCCs. Results: The Sulaimani governorate selected 13 out of 87 PHCCs (14.9%) to be age-friendly; all of them were in Sulaimani city. However, this study found that only 3 out of 87 (3.4%) centers were in the range of the WHO age-friendly recommendations with a score of >75%, while 64 (73.6%) centers were partially age-friendly with a score of 50–74% and 20 (23%) centers were not age-friendly with a score <50%. Conclusion: Only 3.4% of PHCCs in Sulaimani Governorate were age-friendly, and most of the centers were partially age-friendly. Geriatric doctors and geriatric nurses were not recruited, and geriatric training programs for medical staff were not satisfactory.

Factors Associated with Mental Illness in a Primary Healthcare Setting in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Case-Control Study.

Mental health conditions are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with a 13% rise within the last decade. This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with mental illness in patients presenting to a primary healthcare center in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Data were extracted from the electronic health records of 46 primary care centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from March 2022 to March 2023. A total of 2418 age-matched mental health cases and controls were evaluated. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the distribution and association of relevant risk factors. A total of 1209 cases were age-matched to 1209 controls presenting to a primary clinic. The odds of mental illness in females were 2.2 times that of males. Clinical conditions associated with mental illness were stroke, diabetes, and obesity. Neurodegenerative disorders were also associated with mental illness. Primary clinics in the KSA can serve as focal points in removing the barriers to mental healthcare. There is an urgent need to spread awareness, remove the stigma, and provide appropriate care and referrals for mental health conditions in the KSA.

Implementasi Program Pengembangan Kampung Keluarga Berencana (Kampong KB) di Desa Halong Kota Ambon

This research was a qualitative descriptive study with aims to explore facts regarding the implementation of the development of family planning villages in Halong village, Baguala district, Ambon City.This research conducted at the Population of Family Planning Agency and people belonging to couples of childbearing age in Halong village. The data collected through interviews, observation and documentation of some informants who were directly involved in the implementation process of the Family Planning Village program in Halong village, Baguala district. The data collected has processed and analyzed using qualitative descriptive analysis techniques. The results of the data analysis showed that, in general, the implementation of the Family Planning Village program in Halong village was going well. Thus it can be seen from several programs that have been running, including the elderly integrated healthcare center and data house.

Analyzing the Shortcomings in Smart Healthcare for Remote Home Care-A Case Study of the Taiwan Market.

In Taiwan, remote healthcare initially focused on telemedicine, with systematic development starting in 2007 through the "Remote Care Pilot Program" and subsequent initiatives. Significant advancements came with the "Remote Health Care Services Development Plan" in 2010, which integratedArtificial intelligence and Information and communications technologies, enhancing smart healthcare in home care. This study investigated strategic gaps in smart healthcare applications for remote home care using a mixed-methods approach, particularly the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). This study identified and ranked strategic gaps, including "legal regulations", "economic factors", "user behavior habits", "policy and culture", and "environment and technology". Findings, based on in-depth interviews with 6 experts and 16 AHP questionnaire samples, highlight "legal regulations" and "user behavior habits" as critical areas needing attention. Addressing these gaps can improve user acceptance and the effectiveness of smart healthcare applications, providing valuable insights for future research and practice in making remote home care more comprehensive and efficient.

Identifying First-Trimester Risk Factors for SGA-LGA Using Weighted Inheritance Voting Ensemble Learning.

The classification of fetuses as Small for Gestational Age (SGA) and Large for Gestational Age (LGA) is a critical aspect of neonatal health assessment. SGA and LGA, terms used to describe fetal weights that fall below or above the expected weights for Appropriate for Gestational Age (AGA) fetuses, indicate intrauterine growth restriction and excessive fetal growth, respectively. Early prediction and assessment of latent risk factors associated with these classifications can facilitate timely medical interventions, thereby optimizing the health outcomes for both the infant and the mother. This study aims to leverage first-trimester data to achieve these objectives. This study analyzed data from 7943 pregnant women, including 424 SGA, 928 LGA, and 6591 AGA cases, collected from 2015 to 2021 at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China. We propose a novel algorithm, named the Weighted Inheritance Voting Ensemble Learning Algorithm (WIVELA), to predict the classification of fetuses into SGA, LGA, and AGA categories based on biochemical parameters, maternal factors, and morbidity during pregnancy. Additionally, we proposed algorithms for relevance determination based on the classifier to ascertain the importance of features associated with SGA and LGA. The proposed classification solution demonstrated a notable average accuracy rate of 92.12% on 10-fold cross-validation over 100 loops, outperforming five state-of-the-art machine learning algorithms. Furthermore, we identified significant latent maternal risk factors directly associated with SGA and LGA conditions, such as weight change during the first trimester, prepregnancy weight, height, age, and obstetric factors like fetal growth restriction and birthing LGA baby. This study also underscored the importance of biomarker features at the end of the first trimester, including HDL, TG, OGTT-1h, OGTT-0h, OGTT-2h, TC, FPG, and LDL, which reflect the status of SGA or LGA fetuses. This study presents innovative solutions for classifying and identifying relevant attributes, offering valuable tools for medical teams in the clinical monitoring of fetuses predisposed to SGA and LGA conditions during the initial stage of pregnancy. These proposed solutions facilitate early intervention in nutritional care and prenatal healthcare, thereby contributing to enhanced strategies for managing the health and well-being of both the fetus and the expectant mother.

The Context Of Blended Learning Environments: Lessons We Have Learned

Let us lay the context for our conversation: My senior level undergraduate nursing students, all of whom were doing their clinical experience at health care centres in Calgary, appreciated not having to travel to the University after their clinical day to have a face-to-face hour session with myself as their instructor. In previous years, we used a platform called Blackboard, and then Desire to Learn. Each student described what they had learned that day. When we had our face-to-face weekly session on non-clinical days, they reviewed their peer group projects. In providing course feedback, students emphasized that the online approach facilitated their peer group learning and enhanced their confidence in doing classroom presentations.

Motivation and Barriers for Seeking Osteoporosis Screening Services Among the Elderly Population in Al-Madina Munawara.

Background Osteoporosis is a chronic bone disease associated with a reduction in bone mass and an increased risk of fractures. The prevalence of osteoporosis is rising globally, including in Saudi Arabia, where there is a lack of information regarding the uptake of osteoporosis screening services. This study aims to examine self-efficacy and barriers toward osteoporosis screening in older women and men in Al-Madina Munawara, Saudi Arabia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among adults aged 60 and above who attended primary healthcare centers. Convenience sampling was used to recruit participants, and a self-administered questionnaire was used to assess sociodemographic characteristics, osteoporosis status, general health-related characteristics, and screening self-efficacy. Analyses included multivariable regression analyses to evaluate the association between osteoporosis screening self-efficacy and potential explanatory variables. Data were collected in the last quarter of 2023. Results In a study involving 342 completed questionnaires, the mean age of participants was 66.2 years (SD = 4.3), with a range from 60 to 79 years, and the majority were male (230, 67.3%), having chronic diseases (226, 66.3%). Regarding osteoporosis risk factors and screening behaviors, the majority did not use prednisolone (252, 74.1%), did not have a family history of osteoporosis (216, 63.2%), had not experienced falls in the past five years (223, 65.2%), and had not undergone osteoporosis screening (299, 87.4%). The mean self-efficacy score for osteoporosis screening was 37.7 (SD = 4.7), ranging from 10 to 50, which indicated a moderate level of screening self-efficacy. In multivariate analysis, smokers were more likely to have higher scores in self-efficacy for osteoporosis screening compared to non-smokers (RR = 1.10; 95% CI = 1.01, 1.21). Participants who did osteoporosis screening (RR = 1.12; 95% CI = 1.01, 1.24) and those who were planning to do osteoporosis screening (RR = 1.10; 95% CI = 1.03, 1.19) were more likely to have higher score in self-efficacy for osteoporosis screening compared to their counterparts. Conclusion The participants had a fair level of screening self-efficacy. The smokers and those who had undergone or planned to undertake osteoporosis screening demonstrated higher self-efficacy scores than others. A lot of progress could be made in decreasing the burden of osteoporosis and enhancing the overall health and well-being of the older population by addressing these issues using specific interventions and policy measures.

Physicians' perceptions and awareness of adverse effects of proton pump inhibitors and impact on prescribing patterns.

Background: Heightened scrutiny surrounds the inappropriate use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) due to concerns regarding potential serious adverse effects (AEs). Understanding the impact of these AEs on real-world practice is crucial. This study aimed to assess physicians' perceptions, experiences, awareness, and beliefs regarding published data on potential AEs associated with PPIs. Additionally, it sought to determine alterations in PPI prescribing patterns resulting from these AEs, explore attitudes towards PPI use, and ascertain recommendations for PPI use in clinical scenarios with varying levels of risk for upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB). Method: A quantitative, cross-sectional study utilized a self-administered questionnaire, inviting 282 physicians from 55 primary healthcare centers and 334 internal medicine physicians from seven governmental hospitals to participate. Results: With a response rate of 87.8% (541/616), 74% (95% CI: 70.2-77.7) of respondents were somewhat or very familiar with published data on PPI AEs. Among the familiar, 69.5% (CI: 65.2-73.5) had somewhat or very much changed their PPI prescribing patterns. General concerns about AEs when prescribing PPIs were reported by 62% (CI: 56.7-65.1). Respondents displayed awareness of a median (IQR) of 15 (9) different AEs associated with long-term PPI use, including osteoporosis or osteopenia (90.2%), hypomagnesemia (81.5%), vitamin B12 deficiency (80.6%), and bone fracture (80.0%). Respondents believed that PPIs elevate the risk for a median (IQR) of 7 (6) different AEs, with osteoporosis or osteopenia (81.8%) being the most common, followed by hypomagnesemia (67.1%), and vitamin B12 deficiency (62.3%). The most common strategies for PPI de-escalation were PPI discontinuation (61%) and using PPI on-demand/as-needed (57.9%). The majority (87.4%) agreed or strongly agreed that PPI overuse is prevalent in Kuwait and 78.2% emphasized the necessity for large-scale education on rational PPI use for medical staff and the public. In the UGIB prevention scenarios, 43.6% recommended appropriately the PPI discontinuation in the minimal-risk scenario, while 56% recommended appropriately the PPI continuation in the high-risk scenario. Associations and comparative analyses revealed predictors influencing physicians' practices and attitudes toward PPI usage. Conclusion: These findings lay the foundation for future research and targeted interventions aimed at optimizing PPI prescribing practices and ensuring patient safety.

Enhancing Financial Security: Chaotic Map Integration with Biometric Data

"As a digitalization of attendance systems and identity authentication systems at places like factories, airports, educational institutions, healthcare centers, etc. They contain a lot of biometric data like fingerprints, so there is a high risk of data breaches from the databases used by the authentication centers. The biometrics are less costly to upkeep, so it is very economical. The biometric data is susceptible, and sometimes attackers may use it to cause financial damage using these biometric data, as they are used in many government identity cards as proof. Due to this, it becomes essential to protect these data. Research communities have proposed many image security solutions to prevent security breaches. Unfortunately, many cryptosystems today have excessive computational complexity and inadequate security. Thus, protecting these biometric image data and lowering computing complexity are the primary goals of our work. So we have proposed an encryption technique which contain dual confusion followed by a diffusion process. For the first part of confusion, we have designed a divide-rotate algorithm and for the second phase, we have developed a pixel shifting algorithm. A pseudo-random sequence generator is used to generate a chaotic range of values and diffuse the image, and in this process, a Logistic map is used. Studies on security and performance show that the suggested approach has a high degree of randomness and is resistant to statistical entropy-based, differential as well as brute-force attacks. From the analysis and findings, it is clear that the suggested method is incredibly sensitive, financially trustworthy, and performs better than other similar state-of-the-art systems, all with reduced computing complexity."

Knowledge, attitudes and practices on diabetic foot care among nurses in Kimberley, South Africa.

Diabetic foot is a dangerous complication of diabetes and can lead to high morbidity and mortality. As essential team members of the healthcare system, nurses play an important role in diabetic foot management and are indispensable in patients' education to prevent diabetic foot. The study assessed nurses' knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding diabetic foot care in Sol Plaatje primary health care centres in the Northern Cape: Sol Plaatje's 14 district municipality clinics, Kimberley, Northern Cape. This was a descriptive cross-sectional analytical study. A questionnaire assessed nurses' knowledge, practices and attitudes towards diabetic foot care in the above setting. A total of 128 professionals, enrolled and auxiliary nurses who are providing primary care to patients within the 14 clinics in the Sol-Plaatje sub-district were recruited for the study. Hundred and five participants completed the self-administered questionnaires. The majority (95%) were females and 58.1% knew that South African Diabetic Foot Guidelines existed, while 57.7% had read them. About 57% did not know about the 60-s diabetic foot screening tool, and 67% did not know the 10 g monofilament test. Approximately 29.8% had never attended a class on diabetic foot care and 85.6% required training on diabetic foot care. This study revealed that the majority of nurses working in the Sol-Plaatje sub-district primary health care centres are knowledgeable of the diabetic foot guidelines for primary care. However, there is a need for ongoing education on diabetic foot care.Contribution:The study results will help improve nurses' awareness of the importance of diabetic foot care.

Assessment of Medication Adherence Among Patients With Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus in a Tertiary Healthcare Center: A Descriptive Study.

Introduction Effective management of diabetes and hypertension requires a comprehensive approach, including dietary adjustments, physical activity, routine screening for complications, and adherence to medication. Proper adherence to pharmacotherapy is essential for maintaining glycemic control and managing blood pressure. Non-adherence can result in increased complications, higher healthcare costs, and greater morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to evaluate the sociodemographic profile and medication adherence among adults with diabetes and hypertension, focusing on those undergoing treatment. The objective was to determine the extent of adherence and identify factors that influence adherence among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and hypertension. Methods A community-based study was conducted on patients with T2DM and/or hypertension in both rural and urban areas of Bhopal, specifically those attending JK Hospital, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India. Participants were selected using a simple random sampling method. Medication adherence was assessed using the eight-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8), a validated tool for measuring patient adherence behavior. Results The study included 300participants, of whom 68% (n=204) were maleand 32% (n=96) were female. The average age of the participants was 57.52±10.3 years. Among the 300patients, 9% (n=27) had high adherence to medication, 24.7% (n=74) had moderate adherence, and 66.3% (n=199) had low adherence. Conclusions Effective strategies must include targeted patient education on medication costs, side effects, and the long-term benefits of adherence. Integrating technological aids like smartphone apps may enhance adherence. Patients who adhere closely to their regimens are more likely to achieve better control over blood pressure and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, underscoring the critical importance of adherence in managing chronic conditions effectively.

Relationship Between Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease and Lipoprotein (a) and Other Biomarkers.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) primarily affects the adult population and is closely related to obesity. The most severe form of MASLD, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), can progress to liver fibrosis. While lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) is known to be associated with cardiovascular disease, its relationship with MASLD remains unclear. This study aims to determine the prevalence of MASLD in ambulatory patients and to explore the association between Lp(a) levels and advanced liver damage. This retrospective cross-sectional study included 130 patients older than 18 years seen in a healthcare center in Medellin, Colombia, between April 2023 and May 2024. Sociodemographic, clinical, and specific biomarker data were collected. Patients with cirrhosis, previous liver disease, frequent alcohol consumption, cancer, and other severe conditions were excluded. Continuous variables were analyzed using Student's t-tests or Mann-Whitney tests according to their distribution, and categorical variables were analyzed using contingency tables and chi-square tests. Of the 130 patients, 57.9% (n=73) had MASLD, with a higher prevalence in patients with obesity (80%, n=32). Lp(a) levels were abnormally high in 43.1% (n=31) of patients; however, a weak but significant inverse correlation was found between Lp(a) levels and the Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score, which is used to assess the severity of liver fibrosis. Patients with MASLD had significantly lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and vitamin D levels, and higher levels of gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT). This study highlights the significant prevalence of MASLD in outpatients and its relationship with various biomarkers, including Lp(a), HDL, vitamin D, and GGT. Although the findings suggest a possible utility of Lp(a) as a biomarker in MASLD, longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these associations and clarify their role in liver disease progression. The study's limitations include its cross-sectional nature and potential selection bias, indicating the need for further research to validate these results.