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Nutritional status in cirrhotic patients
Adriana Teiusanu1, Mihai Andrei, Tudor Arbanas
1Clinic of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Digestive Endoscopy, Elias Emergency University Hospital, Bucharest, Romania.
Maedica
|March 14, 2013
Summary
Malnutrition is common in liver disease, worsening with severity. Nutritional status, assessed by BMI, TST, and MAMC, correlates with cirrhosis severity and impacts patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Clinical Nutrition
- Medical Diagnostics
Background:
- Malnutrition affects 20-80% of liver disease patients, increasing complications and mortality.
- Protein-calorie malnutrition is observable across all liver disease stages, particularly in advanced cases.
- Nutritional status is a critical factor in liver disease prognosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate nutritional status in cirrhosis patients using Body Mass Index (BMI), triceps skinfold thickness (TST), and mid-arm muscle circumference (MAMC).
- To assess nutritional status via Subjective Global Assessment (SGA), classifying patients into well-nourished, moderately malnourished, and severely malnourished groups.
- To correlate nutritional status with the clinical severity of liver disease.
Main Methods:
- A prospective descriptive study of 176 hospitalized cirrhosis patients (January 2010-January 2011).
- Etiologies included alcoholic (56%), HCV (24%), HBV (8%), and others.
- Nutritional assessment involved detailed history, dietary intake, weight changes, and SGA.
Main Results:
- Malnutrition prevalence and severity correlated significantly with liver disease clinical stage (Child B and C).
- Mild-moderate malnutrition was observed in 88% of Child B patients, with viral etiology being common.
- Severe malnutrition was more frequent in alcoholic liver disease patients and those with Child C classification.
Conclusions:
- Nutritional status is closely linked to the severity of liver disease.
- TST and MAMC measurements significantly decrease with increasing Child score.
- A positive correlation exists between TST, MAMC, and the severity of cirrhosis, highlighting their prognostic value.
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