Assessment of Malnutrition in Chronic Liver Disease Patients with the Child Pugh Classification at a Large Tertiary Care Center in Karachi, Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Child Pugh classification is an easy-to-use method that allows Physicians to assess malnutrition in patients suffering from CLD. Objective: To determine the frequency of malnutrition at different stages of chronic liver disease in accordance with Child Pugh classification. Study Design: The type of study is a cross-sectional study. Settings: Medical Unit III Civil Hospital, Karachi Pakistan. Duration: Six months from 31st May 2016 to 30th November 2016. Methodology: All the patients between the age 30 to 60 years who are known cases of CLD secondary to hepatitis B, C or both, with active signs of CLD were included. All the patients having debilitating co-morbidities likes malignancy, TB, psychiatric, etc. were excluded. Anthropometric evaluation and lab investigation at the time of admission were performed for all the patients. Results: The average age was 48.12±8.521 years and duration of disease was 5.48±3.792 months. There were 61.54% male and 38.46% females. Hepatitis-B was observed in 19.91% (n=44) cases, Hepatitis-C was 62.44% (n=62.44) and both hepatitis B and C was observed in 17.65% (n=39) cases. According to Child Pugh score, 9.5% cases were in class A, 32.58% were in class B and 57.92% were in class C. Frequency of malnutrition in chronic liver disease patients was 62.44% (138/221). Rate of malnutrition was significantly high in class B and C (p=0.002). Rate of malnutrition was also observed to be significantly high in those cases who were positive for both hepatitis like B and C (p=0.001). Effect of duration of cirrhosis was also not statistically significant with malnutrition. Conclusion: Malnutrition was significantly common among chronic liver disease patients regardless of viral etiology. Child Pugh B & C patients were found to have more significant malnourished states.