Area Deprivation Index and Gut-Brain Axis in Cirrhosis

Neighborhood deprivation has been associated with chronic diseases and with gut microbial alterations. Although cirrhosis is associated with gut microbiome changes and hepatic encephalopathy (HE), their association is unclear.

Demographics and cirrhosis details (model for end-stage liver disease [MELD], prior HE, and medications) were recorded from outpatients with cirrhosis. Area deprivation index (ADI), which ranks neighborhoods by socioeconomic disadvantage, was recorded as state decile and national percentile (high = worse for both) and dichotomized on the median. Patients underwent cognitive testing to diagnose minimal HE (MHE). Stool microbiota was analyzed using 16S ribosomal RNA for α/β-diversity. Multivariable analysis was used to evaluate the factors independently associated with MHE.

A total of 321 people with cirrhosis (60 years, 78% men, 75% non-Hispanic White, 24% non-Hispanic African American, 4% Hispanic) were included. 45% had prior HE and 56% MHE. For ADI, the national percentile was 49.1 ± 21.8 while the state decile was 6.1 ± 2.3. ADI was not associated with race, ethnicity, MELD, or HE-related variables on regression. Regarding microbiota, α-diversity was lower in MHE and prior HE patients but similar across ADI rankings. Low vs high ADIs were associated with different β-diversity in univariable but not multivariable analyses. Multivariable analyses showed positive associations with MELD, prior HE, and lactate producers ( Lactobacillus and Lacticaseibacillus ) and negative associations with short-chain fatty acid producers ( Blautia , Lachnoclostridium , and Anaerobutyricum ) with MHE.

Cirrhosis-related variables may be more influential in determining gut microbiome composition and cognitive impairment than ADI. Therefore, the focus should be on improving cirrhosis care, regardless of ADI, but studies evaluating other measures of social determinants are needed in cirrhosis.