Malnutrition is related to a higher frequency of serious complications in patients with cirrhosis

Abstract Introduction Patients with cirrhosis are at risk of malnutrition and this has been recognized as a predictor of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to compare the frequency of serious complications (variceal bleeding, ascites, hepatic encephalopathy and infections) between cirrhotic patients with and without malnutrition. Subjects and methods An observational, analytic, cross-sectional study. The nutritional status of cirrhotic patients was evaluated according to Subjective Global Assessment (SGA). Characteristics of cirrhotic patients with and without malnutrition were compared. Results 103 cirrhotic patients were included, 58 (56.3%) were women; the media of age was 55 ± 12.2 years. According to SGA, 45 patients (43.7%) were classified as well-nourished, and 58 (56.3%) as malnourished. The development of serious complications was related to nutritional status. Malnourished patients had higher frequency of development of ascites (67.2% vs. 42.2%, P = 0.01, OR = 2.8; 95% CI: 1.3–6.3) and infections (21.4% vs. 6.7%, P = 0.03, OR = 4.5; 95% CI: 1.2–16.6). Conclusions The presence of serious complications, such as, ascites and development of bacterial and fungal infections, was more frequent between cirrhotic patients with malnutrition than in those well-nourished.