Liver stiffness as surrogate parameter in emergency assessment for inpatient health care utilization

Transient elastography (TE) allows non-invasive quantification of liver stiffness (LSM) and steatosis (controlled attenuation parameter, CAP). Here we test the feasibility and utility of TE in the emergency department (ED) and investigate whether LSM predicts longer hospitalization and reimbursement for non-elective patients.

LSM and CAP were determined in prospectively recruited consecutive adult patients admitted to the ED of a tertiary referral center. Patients were stratified according to the 9.1 kPa and 13.0 kPa LSM cut-offs. Elastography measurements were correlated with clinical and outcome parameters, including duration of hospital stay and hospitalization costs.

In 200 ED patients (133 men, age 18 - 97 years), median LSM was 5.5 kPa (2.4 - 69.1 kPa), and median CAP was 252 dB/m (100 - 400 dB/m). In total, 39 patients (19.5%) presented with LSM ≥ 9.1 kPa, and 24 patients (12.0%) presented with LSM ≥ 13.0 kPa. Heart failure (n = 19) was associated with higher LSM (p = 0.045). Patients with LSM ≥ 9.1 kPa were significantly (p < 0.01) more likely to require longer hospitalization than those with lower LSM. Patients with LSM ≥ 13.0 kPa generated significantly (p = 0.001) higher costs as compared to patients with low LSM.

Transient elastography represents an easily accessible screening tool in ED that might help identify patients in need of increased health care resources.