Osteoporotic Fracture Risk and Health Care Burden in Patients With Cirrhosis

Assessing the risk factors associated with nutritional status in patients with liver cirrhosis: A case-control study

BACKGROUND

Cirrhosis is one of the most common clinical diseases in the world. The patient with cirrhosis has many complications, such as spontaneous peritonitis, hepatic encephalopathy. Malnutrition is one of the most common complications in patients with cirrhosis, and it is also a key factor affecting the prognosis of patients. However, the research on cirrhosis malnutrition is relatively scarce.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore the new factors of the liver cirrhosis with the nutritional status.

METHODS

A total of 370 patients with liver cirrhosis were admitted to the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University from January 2019 to January 2023 were selected. Patients were assigned to the malnourished group and normal group. The weight, height, mid arm circumference (MAC) and triceps skinfold thickness (TSF) of the two groups were measured. Body mass index (BMI) and mid-arm muscle circumference (MAMC) were calculated. Furthermore, the Health Literacy Management Scale (HeLMS), biochemical indexes, incidence of complications, disease grade were also counted and the Royal Free Hospital-Nutrition Prioritization Tool were used to evaluate the nutritional status of the patient.

RESULTS

A total of 370 patients was included in this study, including 177 malnutrition patients, accounting for 45.29%, and the scores and total scores of the patients in the malnutrition group were lower than those in the normal group. The measured values of Na+, Alb, PA, T-Bil, TC, TLC, Hb, and RBC were all lower than those of the normal group, and the difference was statistically significant. The overall complication rate of the patients in the malnourished group was 89.61%, and that of the normal group was 39.78%. Multifactorial logistic regression analysis was performed with nutritional level as the dependent variable (normal = 0, malnutrition = 1), and the above indicators of variability (Na+, Alb, PA, T-Bil, TC, PT, Hb, RBC, HG, and HeLMS scores) as the independent variables. The results showed that Na+, Hb were the influencing factors of nutritional level (P< 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The incidence of malnutrition in cirrhotic patients included in this study was at a moderate level, and the nutritional literacy of these patients was low. In addition, the level of serum sodium, Hemoglobin can affect the nutritional level of patients with cirrhosis.

Risk of Fractures and Subsequent Mortality in Alcohol-Related Cirrhosis: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Alcohol-related cirrhosis is linked to increased risk of fractures, but this has seldom been quantified nationally or compared against control subjects without cirrhosis. Here, we determined the rate and risk of fractures and postfracture mortality in patients with alcohol-related cirrhosis compared with individuals from the general population.

METHODS

In this nationwide population-based cohort study, data were retrieved from the Swedish National Patient Registry on 25,090 patients with alcohol-related cirrhosis from 1969-2016. Patients were matched for sex, age, and municipality with 239,458 control subjects from the Swedish Total Population Registry. Cox regression models were fitted to investigate the rates of fractures and postfracture mortality. The cumulative incidence of fractures was calculated while accounting for competing risks (death or liver transplantation).

RESULTS

A total of 48,635 fractures occurred during 3,468,860 person-years of follow-up. Patients with alcohol-related cirrhosis had a higher fracture rate per 1000 person-years (38.7) than control subjects (13.3; adjusted hazard ratio, 3.8; 95% confidence interval, 3.6-3.9). The cumulative incidence of fractures was elevated for patients the first 19 years of follow-up, with a 5-year risk of 9.6% compared with 4.5% for control subjects. Patients with alcohol-related cirrhosis had a higher postfracture mortality rate compared with control subjects who also experienced a fracture, at both 30 days (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-1.8) and 1 year (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.7-2.0).

CONCLUSIONS

Alcohol-related cirrhosis is associated with an almost 4-fold increased fracture rate, a higher risk of fractures the first 2 decades after initial diagnosis, and higher postfracture mortality. Preventive interventions to reduce modifiable fracture risk factors in this population are justified.

Plasma pentosidine levels are associated with prevalent fractures in patients with chronic liver disease

Aim

Osteoporotic fractures negatively impact health-related quality of life and prognosis. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) impair bone quality and reduce bone strength. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between plasma levels of pentosidine, a surrogate marker for AGEs, and prevalent fractures in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD).

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 324 patients with CLD. Vertebral fractures were evaluated using lateral thoracolumbar spine radiographs. Information on prevalent fractures was obtained through a medical interview, medical records, and/or radiography. The patients were classified into low (L), intermediate (I), and high (H) pentosidine (Pen) groups based on baseline plasma pentosidine levels.

Results

Of the 324 patients, 105 (32.4%) had prevalent fractures. The prevalence of liver cirrhosis (LC) and prevalent fractures significantly increased stepwise with elevated pentosidine levels. The H-Pen group had the highest prevalence of LC (88.6%, p < 0.001) and prevalent fractures (44.3%, p = 0.007), whereas the L-Pen group had the lowest prevalence of LC (32.1%, p < 0.001) and prevalent fractures (21.0%, p = 0.007). Multiple logistic regression analysis identified pentosidine as a significant independent factor related to prevalent fractures (odds ratio = 1.069, p < 0.001). Pentosidine levels increased stepwise and correlated with liver disease severity. They were markedly high in patients with decompensated LC. In multiple regression analysis, liver functional reserve factors (total bilirubin, albumin, and prothrombin time-international normalized ratio) significantly and independently correlated with pentosidine levels.

Conclusions

Plasma pentosidine was significantly associated with prevalent fractures and liver functional reserve in patients with CLD. Pentosidine may be useful in predicting fracture risk and should be closely followed in CLD patients with advanced disease.

Malnutrition in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis

Liver cirrhosis is an increasing public health threat worldwide. Malnutrition is a serious complication of cirrhosis and is associated with worse outcomes. With this review, we aim to describe the prevalence of malnutrition, pathophysiological mechanisms, diagnostic tools and therapeutic targets to treat malnutrition. Malnutrition is frequently underdiagnosed and occurs-depending on the screening methods used and patient populations studied-in 5-92% of patients. Decreased energy and protein intake, inflammation, malabsorption, altered nutrient metabolism, hypermetabolism, hormonal disturbances and gut microbiome dysbiosis can contribute to malnutrition. The stepwise diagnostic approach includes a rapid prescreen, the use of a specific screening tool, such as the Royal Free Hospital Nutritional Prioritizing Tool and a nutritional assessment by dieticians. General dietary measures-especially the timing of meals-oral nutritional supplements, micronutrient supplementation and the role of amino acids are discussed. In summary malnutrition in cirrhosis is common and needs more attention by health care professionals involved in the care of patients with cirrhosis. Screening and assessment for malnutrition should be carried out regularly in cirrhotic patients, ideally by a multidisciplinary team. Further research is needed to better clarify pathogenic mechanisms such as the role of the gut-liver-axis and to develop targeted therapeutic strategies.