[Mortality in cirrhosis: prevalence, causes, and predictive factors]

To determine the global mortality rate during cirrhosis, to point out its principal causes and to look for factors associated with a higher death risk in cirrhotic patients. We carried out a retrospective study on patients hospitalized for cirrhosis during a seven-year period. We indicated the number of deceased patients, as well as the cause and the time interval for death. Age, sex, Child's score, etiology and the state of the cirrhosis were considered in a univariate and a multivariate analysis to look for mortality predictive factors. 109 patients (49 males, 60 females) of average age 57 years (15-87) were studied. The average follow-up interval was 30 months (1-96). The global mortality rate was 24%, with a five-year survival rate of 66%. In univariate analysis, mortality was more frequent in the following cases: presence of an initial complication (p < 0.001), Child C cirrhosis (p = 0.02) and post-hepatitic B cirrhosis (p = 0.004). In multivariate analysis, only B viral etiology (five-year survival rate of 48%, p = 0.002) and the existence of an initial complication (five-year survival rate of 30%, p < 0.001) were independently associated with a higher mortality risk. Our study showed that cirrhosis is associated with an important mortality. Our results confirm the poor prognosis of a cirrhosis revealed by an inaugural complication and suggests that post-hepatitic B cirrhosis is more severe than post-hepatitic C cirrhosis.