Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://ahro.austin.org.au/austinjspui/handle/1/29689
Title: Malnutrition and low muscle strength are independent predictors of clinical outcomes and healthcare costs after liver transplant.
Austin Authors: Chapman, Brooke ;Goh, Su Kah ;Parker, Francis C;Romero, Sarah;Sinclair, Marie ;Gow, Paul J ;Ma, Ronald ;Angus, Peter W ;Jones, Robert M ;Luke, Jacqueline;Muralidharan, Vijayaragavan ;Testro, Adam G 
Affiliation: Victorian Liver Transplant Unit
Nutrition and Dietetics
The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia..
Physiotherapy
Issue Date: Apr-2022
Date: 2022
Publication information: Clinical nutrition ESPEN 2022; 48: 210-219
Abstract: Malnutrition and sarcopenia are associated with increased morbidity and mortality in cirrhosis but conflicting data are reported after liver transplantation (LT), with little known about the economic burden of malnutrition at LT. This study aims to investigate the impact of pre-transplant malnutrition and muscle strength on post-transplant clinical outcomes and healthcare costs. Pre-transplant nutritional status (via subjective global assessment, SGA) and handgrip strength (HGS) were assessed in patients transplanted from 2009-2017. Descriptive statistics and regression analysis were used to analyse the association between nutrition and muscle function with post-LT clinical outcomes and hospital costs. 373 patients (70% male, median age 55 [IQR: 47, 60]) were transplanted, with 79% malnourished and mean HGS 31.4 ± 9.35 kg for males and 17.6 ± 5.78 kg for females. Malnutrition and reduced HGS independently predicted adverse post-transplant outcomes. ICU length of stay (LOS) was associated with severe malnutrition (HR (time to discharge (TTD)) 0.706, p = 0.014) and low HGS (HR (TTD) 0.692, p = 0.003); hospital LOS with severe malnutrition (HR (TTD) 0.759, p = 0.049) and low HGS (HR (TTD) 0.730, p = 0.011), and post-transplant infection with severe malnutrition (OR 1.76, p = 0.042) and low HGS (OR 1.83, p = 0.015). Accordingly, hospital costs were 30% higher in severely malnourished compared to well-nourished recipients (p = 0.012). Neither malnutrition or impaired HGS were associated with post-transplant mortality. This large cohort study demonstrates malnutrition and muscle weakness are independently associated with early post-transplant morbidity, namely infection and ICU and hospital LOS; with significantly increased hospital costs. Strategies to combat malnutrition and deconditioning pre-transplant may improve patient and health system outcomes after LT.
URI: https://ahro.austin.org.au/austinjspui/handle/1/29689
DOI: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2022.02.013
ORCID: 0000-0002-7251-8314
0000-0002-6684-2521
0000-0003-0657-3048
0000-0001-6505-7233
0000-0001-8505-2317
0000-0001-8247-8937
0000-0001-6776-3115
Journal: Clinical nutrition ESPEN
PubMed URL: 35331494
PubMed URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35331494/
Type: Journal Article
Subjects: Cirrhosis
Healthcare economics
Liver transplant
Malnutrition
Sarcopenia
Appears in Collections:Journal articles

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