Optimization of long-term prognosis of patients with alcoholic liver disease

Abstract

Aim: to prove the effectiveness of combined physical and psychological assessment in improving the long-term outcome of patients with alcoholic liver disease (ALD).Materials and methods: the active outpatient follow-up (AOF) group included 29 patients with ALD consisted of active liver function and motivation assessment, motivational interviewing, liver panel lab tests with the rate once at 3 months. The AOF program consisted of dynamic monitoring of liver function at least 1 time in 3 months and psychological support provided by the hepatologist using brief interventional approach. The control of abstinence was provided by using self-reports and indirect biomarkers of alcohol consumption. The control group included 36 patients with ALD and history of two-years follow-up after first alcoholinduced liver injury who received comprehensive therapy and a simple advice to avoid alcohol.Results: the adherence to abstinence were significantly higher in AOF group compared with control group. The proportion of patients with decompensated cirrhosis was significantly lower in AOF group compared with control group at 12 and 24 months after enrollment. The long-term survival in AOF-group was significantly higher than in control group. The only parameter independently associated with long-term survival was the presence of AOF program.Conclusion: the combined physical and psychological assessment of patients with ALD, provided by internists improves adherence to abstinence, reduces the risk of decompensation of liver function, severity of ALD and improves patients survival in the long term period.