Retrospective Analysis of the Effect of Sarcopenia on Mortality and Morbidity in Liver Transplant Patients

Sarcopenia significantly influences morbidity and mortality in liver transplant recipients. The psoas muscle area index and prognostic nutritional index (PNI) are potential indicators of sarcopenia's impact on postoperative outcomes. However, their association with postoperative morbidity and mortality in cadaveric liver transplant recipients remains underexplored.

Data from 52 patients who underwent cadaveric liver transplantation at Çukurova University over 10 years were analyzed. Sarcopenia was assessed using psoas muscle area index (cutoffs, 4.62 mm²/cm² for males and 2.66 mm²/cm² for females, based on Bahat et al) and PNI (cutoffs, ≤45 for low and >45 for high, based on Li et al). Postoperative morbidity was evaluated using the Clavien-Dindo classification. The main outcomes were overall survival and morbidity rates.

Sarcopenic patients had shorter survival (62.2 ± 16.4 months) compared with nonsarcopenic patients (83.6 ± 11.4 months), although this difference was not statistically significant (P = .370). Sarcopenia was more common in males, Child-Pugh C patients, those with ascites, American Society of Anesthesiologists score of ≥3, and a Clavien-Dindo grade of ≥3 patients. It was significantly associated with low body mass index and albumin levels (P < .05) and was more prevalent in the low PNI group. A significant correlation was observed between PNI and Child-Pugh score (P = .012), alpha fetoprotein, and albumin levels (P = .007 and P = .001).

Sarcopenia negatively impacts survival, whereas a higher PNI correlates with a lower mortality risk. Further multicenter prospective studies with a larger population are needed to validate these findings.