Evaluation of nutritional status of nonhospitalized patients with liver cirrhosis

Abstract

Background - Protein-calorie malnutrition is a frequent finding in patients with chronic liver disease, but investigations of nutritional status have been rarely performed in individuals seen at outpatient clinics. Aim - To evaluate the nutritional status of patients with alcoholic and nonalcoholic cirrhosis, attended for the first time at a reference outpatient clinic for liver diseases. Patients and methods - A total of 300 consecutive patients attended at the outpatient clinics of a reference center for liver diseases were investigated. Anthropometric evaluation was performed by the usual parameters: triceps skinfold, arm circumference and arm muscle circumference. Biochemical parameters included creatinine/height index, serum albumin and lymphocytes count. The nutritional diagnosis was based on the PCM score proposed by Mendenhall et al. Food intake was retrospectively evaluated using 24-hour dietary recall data. Results - About 71% of the patients studied were chronic alcohol abusers, whereas in 29% cirrhosis was of nonalcoholic etiology. Independently of the disease etiology 75.3% of the patients showed some degree of protein-calorie malnutrition, which was moderate or severe in 38.3% of them. More advanced protein-calorie malnutrition degrees were associated with lower energy and protein intake. The prevalence of moderate or severe protein-calorie malnutrition was higher in patients classified as Child-Pugh C than in patients classified as Child-Pugh A (21% x 58%, respectively). Regarding sexual differences, fat reserves, evaluated by triceps skinfold, were more depleted in females than in males (48.6% x 26.6%) regardless of the etiology of the cirrhosis, whereas muscle reserves (arm muscle circumference) were more depleted in males (43.4% x 13.4%) regardless of the etiology of cirrhosis. In contrast, cirrhosis of alcoholic etiology was determinant in reducing arm muscle circumference in females (20% x 9.1%). Conclusions - These data highlight the high prevalence of protein-calorie malnutrition occurring early in the natural history of the disease and accompanying functional hepatic deterioration. In addition, attention should be paid to the different gender patterns of response to protein-calorie malnutrition in these patients.