The Saudi Journal of Gastroenterology (Jan 2011)

In-hospital mortality among a cohort of cirrhotic patients admitted to a Tertiary Hospital

  • Mohammad A Alsultan,
  • Rashed S Alrshed,
  • Abdulrahman A Aljumah,
  • Salim A Baharoon,
  • Yaseen M Arabi,
  • Abdulaziz S Aldawood

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4103/1319-3767.87179
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 17, no. 6
pp. 387 – 390

Abstract

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Background/Aim : To determine the mortality rate in a cohort of hospitalized patients with cirrhosis and examine their resuscitation status at admission. Materials and Methods : A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients with cirrhosis who were admitted to a tertiary care hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2009. Results: We reviewed 226 cirrhotic patients during the study period. The hospital mortality rate was 35%. A univariate analysis revealed that worse outcomes were seen in patients with advanced age or who had worse child-turcotte-pugh (CPT) scores, worse model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores, low albumin and high serum creatinine. Using a multivariate analysis, we found that advanced age (P=0.004) and high MELD (P=0.001) scores were independent risk factors for the mortality of cirrhotic patients. The end-of-life decision were made in 34% of cirrhotic patients, and the majority of deceased patients were "no resuscitation" status (90% vs. 4%, P<0.001). Conclusions : The relatively high mortality in cirrhotic patients admitted for care in a tertiary hospital, Saudi Arabia was comparable to that reported in the literature. Furthermore, end-of-life discussions should be addressed early in the hospitalization of cirrhotic patients.

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