Predictive Factors for the Prognosis of Alcoholic Liver Cirrhosis

Abstract

Alcoholic liver cirrhosis (ALC) is a disease with multiple complications and is associated with poor prognosis and significant mortality. Identifying risk factors associated with a poor outcome is important to ensure effective treatment and increase life expectancy. We aimed to evaluate the predictive values of complications regarding mortality in ALC. We retrospectively analyzed 1429 patients with ALC hospitalized between January 2019 and April 2022 at the Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Iasi. The electronic medical records were interrogated to obtain information about demographic data, complications, comorbidities, and prognostic scores: MELD-Na (model for end-stage liver disease-sodium) and CTP (Child–Turcotte–Pugh). Based on uni- and multivariate analysis, independent predictors of mortality were identified. The mean age at diagnosis was 56.15 ± 11.49 years with a ratio of 2:1 in favor of males. There were 296 deaths (20.8%), most of them during the first hospitalization (208/14.6%). It was observed during the univariate analysis that complications of the disease negatively affected the survival rate, significant values being related to infections (sepsis; OR = 21.98; p < 0.001; spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) (OR = 11.94; p < 0.001) and hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) (OR = 9.35; p < 0.001). The independent predictors, confirmed by multivariate analysis, were the association of variceal bleeding, infections, and hepatic encephalopathy or ascites, each combination being responsible for two out of 10 of the deaths during the first admission. The prognosis of the disease was negatively influenced by the worsening of liver dysfunction and the appearance of complications. The main predictors of mortality were infections, hepatic encephalopathy, variceal bleeding, and hepatorenal syndrome. Improving compliance and strict application of specific follow-up and treatment strategies could contribute to a better prognosis of patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis.

Portal Vein Thrombosis in Patients With Cirrhosis of the Liver: Prevalence and Risk Factors

“…We found that a duration of cirrhosis of five years or longer was associated with the occurrence of PVT in our study. This observation is in line with a study by Trifan et al, which reported an increasing cumulative incidence of cirrhosis over the years following the initial diagnosis [ 22 ]. However, the assessment of the duration of cirrhosis at the time of presentation is challenging due to the largely asymptomatic nature of compensated cirrhosis.…”

The Impact of Alcohol Consumption Pattern on Liver Fibrosis in Asymptomatic Patients

“…Our results support the idea that there are major differences regarding the impact of alcohol on health depending on the type of preferred drink and the particularities of consumption (moderate versus excessive), which are objectified by the abnormal changes of specific biomarkers for inflammatory status and oxidative stress. Early detection of liver fibrosis through TE could prevent the development of complications and the evolution towards alcoholic liver disease and cirrhosis that have a strong socio-economic impact on patients and healthcare systems, an idea highlighted in a study conducted by Trifan et al in which from over 1429 patients diagnosed for the first time with alcoholic liver cirrhosis during two and a half years, more than 20.8% deceased due to decompensation of the hepatic disease [45]. Improving compliance and applying monitoring strategies, specific therapy, and psychological counseling could contribute to a better prognosis for these patients.…”