Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of all patients with cirrhosis included in the study (n = 234) and those with an available ECG from pre-transplant evaluation (n = 186)
| All patients (n = 234) | Patients with an available ECG (n = 186) | |
|---|---|---|
|
Age |
52 (10.5) |
52 (11) |
|
Male sex |
162 (69%) |
133 (72%) |
|
Etiology of liver cirrhosis |
|
|
| Alcoholic liver disease or mixed |
85 (36%) |
71 (38%) |
| Viral liver disease |
55 (23.5%)1 |
47 (25.5%)2 |
| Cholestatic liver disease |
42 (18%)3 |
33 (18%)4 |
| Autoimmune hepatitis |
14 (6%) |
12 (6.5%) |
| Cryptogenic/NASH cirrhosis |
20 (8.5%) |
18 (9.5%) |
| Other |
18 (8%)5 |
5 (2.5%) |
|
Severity of liver cirrhosis |
|
|
| Child Pugh Score |
9 (2.2) |
8.9 (2.2) |
| MELD |
16.5 (6.8) |
16.2 (6.5) |
|
Complications of liver cirrhosis |
|
|
| History of variceal bleeding |
59 (25%) |
45 (24%) |
| Ascites at evaluation |
167 (71%) |
132 (71%) |
| Hepatocellular carcinoma in explant |
26 (11%) |
23 (12.5%) |
| Hepatorenal syndrome |
43 (18%) |
33 (17.5%) |
|
Mean arterial pressure (mmHg) |
85.5 (12) |
85 (11.5) |
|
Heart rate |
72 (11) |
72 (12) |
|
Glomerular filtration rate (ml/h/1.73sqm) |
83 (29.5) |
83 (29.5) |
|
CAD |
18 (8%) |
13 (7%) |
|
Diabetes mellitus |
28 (12%) |
37 (20%) |
|
History of arterial hypertension |
48 (20%) |
23 (12%) |
|
Current or ex-smoker |
118 (43%) |
92 (49%) |
|
β-Blockers at pre-transplant evaluation |
112 (48%) |
92 (49%) |
|
Use of diuretics at evaluation |
152 (65%) |
123 (66%) |
| Coronary investigation 6 | 95 (34.5%) | 74 (40%) |
Data expressed as mean (SD) or n (%) as appropriate. No statistical difference was seen between the groups with regard to the factors listed in this table. (p > 0.1 for all).
NASH, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis; MELD, model for end-stage liver disease; CAD, Coronary artery disease.
1Hepatitis C – 30, Hepatitis B - 21, Hepatitis B and C - 4.
2Hepatitis C - 38, hepatitis B - 28, hepatitis C and hepatitis B – 5.
3Primary sclerosing cholangitis - 20, Primary biliary cirrhosis – 13.
4Primary sclerosing cholangitis - 26, Primary biliary cirrhosis - 17.
5Overlap syndrome - 7, Alpha 1 antitrypsine deficiency – 3, Cholestatic disease and alcoholic liver disease – 2, Secondary sclerosing cholangitis - 2, Wilsons disease - 1, Drug induced liver injury - 1, Cystic fibrosis - 1, and Echinococcal infection/treatment of echinococcal infection - 1.
6Patients who underwent further investigation for CAD at pre-transplant evaluation such as coronary angiography, myocardial scintigraphy, stress echocardiography and/or treadmill exercise test.