Assessment of Nutritional Status in Chronic Hepatic Patients at Ain Shams University Hospital

Background: Malnutrition is prevalent in all forms of liver disease. The presence of malnutrition is associated with increased number of complications and increased short and long term mortality. Objectives: to assess the nutritional status of patients with chronic liver disease & identify the relationship between hepatic disease severity and degree of malnutrition. Methods: A cross sectional study, on a sample of chronic hepatic patients in Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department at Ain Shams University hospital. An interview questionnaire including socio-demographics, medical, surgical history and gastrointestinal symptoms had been completed. Nutritional status was assessed by using scored patient-generated-subjective global assessment (PG-SGA), anthropometric, functional parameters and Laboratory tests. Liver disease severity was assessed using Child Pugh score. Results: Sample of 161 patients, 104 from outpatient clinic and 57 from inpatients. Their mean age was 51.3±12.5 years, 51.6% were males. They were 47%, 42% for class A,B and C in consequence as for Child classification of liver disease. Assessment of malnutrition using Global PG-SGA revealed 16.8% were severely malnourished (PG-SGA C), about half (50.9%) were moderately malnourished (PG-SGA B), one third (32.3%) were well nourished (PG-SGA A). About one quarter were moderately malnourished by either weight for age, MAC, TSF, MAMC or MAMA. There was a statistically significant difference between the three Child`s groups as regards PG-SGA total score and global rating and different anthropometric and functional methods. Conclusion & recommendation: There was a high prevalence of malnutrition among chronic hepatic patients in Ain Shams University hospital. The degree of malnutrition increases as the severity of liver disease increase. Accordingly, proper nutritional screening and assessment should be done routinely to all chronic hepatic patients.