Nutritional status and survival of patients with liver cirrhosis: anthropometric evaluation

Malnutrition frequently occurs in patients with liver cirrhosis independently for its aetiology and can modify prognosis of the disease. We have evaluated if malnutrition can affect the survival of 184 patients with liver cirrhosis (124 at stage A according to Child-Pugh criteria, and 50 at stage B-C of the disease). Nutritional status was assessed by anthropometric measurements: body weight (actual and ideal), and biceps, triceps, over-iliac and sub-scapular skinfold thickness. About 8% of Child A patients and 26% of Child B-C were malnourished, and malnutrition affected the mortality of these patients at 1 year, whereas no differences were observed at 2 years. Our data suggest that the evaluation of nutritional status is important in cirrhotic management and malnutrition can be an aggravating factor for the survival of these patients.