Association of echocardiography-related parameters with the prognosis of decompensated cirrhosis: a retrospective...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Hepatology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Cardiac abnormalities are common in decompensated cirrhosis.
• Echocardiography is a standard tool for assessing cardiac function.
• Prognostic indicators in this patient group require further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between echocardiography-derived parameters and prognosis in patients with decompensated cirrhosis.
• To identify specific echocardiographic markers that predict further decompensation and mortality.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 104 decompensated cirrhotic patients.
• Echocardiographic measurements included right ventricular dimension (RVD) and mitral inflow velocities (E/A ratio).
• Statistical analyses involved Cox regression, competing risk models, and survival curves (Kaplan-Meier, Nelson-Aalen).

Main Results:

• Lower RVD (≤17 mm) was a significant predictor of further decompensation (p=0.003).
• An E/A ratio ≤0.8 was a significant predictor of mortality (p=0.024).
• Other echocardiographic parameters showed no significant association with prognosis.

Conclusions:

• Right ventricular dimension (RVD) and the E/A ratio are valuable prognostic markers in decompensated cirrhosis.
• These echocardiographic parameters can aid in risk stratification and clinical decision-making.