SummaryBackgroundSince 1970, there has been a 400% increase in liver‐related deaths due to the increasing prevalence of chronic liver disease in the United Kingdom (UK). The 2013 UK National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death report found that only 47% of patients who died from alcohol‐related liver disease received ‘good care’ during their hospital stay.AimTo develop a ‘care bundle’ for patients with decompensated cirrhosis, aiming to ensure that evidence‐based treatments are delivered within the first 24 h of hospital admission.MethodsThis work gives practical advice about how to implement the bundle and examines its effects on patient care at three National Health Service Hospital Trusts in the UK by collecting data on patient care before and after introduction of the bundle.ResultsData were collected on 228 patients across three centres (59% male, median age 53 years). Alcohol‐related liver disease was the aetiology of chronic liver disease in 85% of patients. The overall mortality rate during hospital admission was 15%. The audits demonstrated improvements in patient care for patients with a completed care bundle who were significantly more likely to have a diagnostic ascitic performed within the first 24 h (P = 0.020), have an accurate alcohol history documented (P < 0.0001) and be given antibiotics as prophylaxis against infection following a variceal haemorrhage (P = 0.0096). In Newcastle, the bundle completion rate increased from 25% to 90% during the review periods.ConclusionsThe introduction of a care bundle was associated with increased rates of diagnostic paracentesis and antibiotic prophylaxis with variceal haemorrhage in patients with decompensated cirrhosis.
ObjectiveHepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is common. Although treatment is effective, with oral antivirals curing >95% of patients, most individuals have comorbidities that persist long term. Therefore, our aim was to determine the prevalence of potentially modifiable health problems in patients with HCV and develop an HCV care bundle to identify and target comorbidities.DesignCross-sectional, observational single-centre study that recruited consecutive patients with HCV from our viral hepatitis clinics. Data were collected on cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, lifestyle behaviours, anthropometry and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). QRISK 3 was used to predict 10-year CV event risk.Results100 patients were recruited (67% male, 93% white, median age 52 years (range 24–80); 71% were treated for HCV; 34% had cirrhosis; 14% had diabetes; 61% had hypertension; 31% had metabolic syndrome; and 54% were smokers). The median 10-year CV event risk was 8.3% (range 0.3%–63%). 45% had a predicted 10-year CV event risk of >10%. Only 10% of individuals were treated with statins and 27% with antihypertensives. 92% had a predicted ‘heart age’ greater than their chronological age (median difference +7 (−4 to +26) years). HRQoL was reduced in all SF36v2 domains in the cohort. Factors independently associated with HRQoL included cirrhosis, metabolic syndrome, history of mental health disorder, sedentary behaviour and HCV viraemia.ConclusionA large proportion of patients with HCV presented with increased risk of CV events, and rates of smoking and sedentary behaviour were high, while prescribing of primary prophylaxis was infrequent. HRQoL was also reduced in the cohort. A ‘care bundle’ was developed to provide a structured approach to treating potentially modifiable health problems.
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