Table 4.
Hazard ratio for the different variables investigated by univariate analysis and multivariate analysis as possible prognostic factors in 188 cirrhotic patients presenting with hepatic encephalopathy and commenced on rifaximin
| Variable | Univariate hazard ratio using cox regression (95%CI)1 | Multivariate hazard ratio (95%CI)1 |
| Age | 1.014 (0.99, 1.03) | |
| Sex (male vs female) | 1.087 (0.75, 1.58) | |
| Aetiology of cirrhosis2 | ||
| HBV infection | 0.76 (0.28, 2.05) | |
| HCV infection | 0.62 (0.42, 0.91)a | |
| Alcohol | 0.92 (0.65, 1.30) | |
| Precipitating factors2 | ||
| Gastrointestinal bleed | 0.75 (0.46, 1.22) | |
| Infection | 1.49 (1.03, 2.15)a | |
| Diuretic therapy | 1.47 (0.94, 2.32) | |
| Constipation | 1.19 (0.73, 1.95) | |
| Ascites at the time of HE2 | 1.11 (0.77, 1.59) | |
| Maximal grade of HE (grade 3 and 4 vs grade 1 and 2) | 0.80 (0.53, 1.21) | |
| Serum values3 | ||
| Bilirubin | 1.001 (1, 1.002)a | |
| ALT | 1 (0.99, 1.003) | |
| GGT | 1 (1, 1) | |
| Albumin | 0.97 (0.95, 1.002) | |
| Urea | 1.05 (1.02, 1.09)a | |
| Creatinine | 1.001 (1, 1.002)a | |
| Sodium | 0.99 (0 .97, 1.03) | |
| Potassium | 1.16 (0.96, 1.40) | |
| INR | 1.5 (1.21, 1.85)a | 1.27 (1.04, 1.54)a |
| Hb | 0.98 (0.97, 1.01) | |
| WCC | 1.06 (1.02, 1.10)a | |
| Plt | 1.00 (0.99, 1.01) | |
| Child Pugh Score (C vs A/B) | 1.57 ( 1.02, 2.41)a | |
| MELD | 1.03 (1.01, 1.06)a | |
| MELD (≥ 15 vs ≤ 15) | 2.41 ( 1.20. 4.85)a | 2.17 (1.07, 4.43)a |
1
In brackets: 95% confidence interval.
2
Presence vs absence.
3
Hazard ratio per unit increase.
a
P ≤ 0.05. HE: Hepatic encephalopathy; HCV: Hepatitis C; HBV: Hepatitis B; ALT: Alanine transaminase; GGT: Gamma glutamyl transferase; INR: international normalised ratio; Hb: Haemoglobin; WCC: White cell count; Plt: Platelet count; MELD: Model for end-stage liver disease.