Sarcopenia increases mortality risk in liver transplantation: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Liver transplantation is an efficacious treatment option for those with liver cirrhosis. However, the prognostic role of sarcopenia in these patients is unknown. Given this background, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of sarcopenia on mortality in patients listed, evaluated and undergoing liver transplantation.

Several databases were searched from the inception to December 2022 for observational studies regarding sarcopenia in liver transplant and mortality. We calculated the risk of mortality in sarcopenia vs. no sarcopenia using the most adjusted estimate available and summarizing the data as risk ratios (RRs) with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A random-effect model was considered for all analyses.

Among 1135 studies initially considered, 33 articles were included for a total of 12,137 patients (mean age: 55.3 years; 39.4% females). Over a median of 2.6 years and after adjusting for a median of 3 covariates, sarcopenia increased the risk of mortality approximately 2-fold (RR: 2.01; 95% CI: 1.70-2.36). After accounting for publication bias, the re-calculated RR was 1.75 (95% CI: 1.49-2.06). The quality of the studies was generally low, as determined by the Newcastle Ottawa Scale.

Sarcopenia was significantly linked with an increased risk of mortality in patients listed, evaluated, and undergoing a liver transplantation, indicating the need of interventional studies in this special population with the main aim to reverse this potential reversible condition and decrease mortality risk.