Mortality and readmission in hospitalized cirrhotic patients in a General Hospital from Lima, Peru

Liver cirrhosis is a public health problem. In Peru, is the leading cause of death in liver diseases. In addition, patients with chronic liver disease and cirrhosis are at increased risk for readmission. To determine the frequency of mortality and readmission at 3 months, and clinical-epidemiological characteristics of hospitalized cirrhotic patients in a general hospital. Data were collected prospectively of hospitalized cirrhotic patients in the Hospital Nacional Cayetano Heredia,Lima,Peru, from October 2011 to October 2012; telephone follow-up was at 3 months after hospital discharge. The study included 96 patients. The mean age was 59.2 years. The most common etiology of cirrhosis was alcohol (45.8%) and the main reason for hospitalization was upper gastrointestinal bleeding (29.2%). Global mortality was 39.6% (38 patients), from them, 63.2% (24/38) were inpatients, its main cause was septic shock 31.5% (12/38). Forty-four percent of the deceased had infection as complication. Hospital readmission was 42.8% (33/77) and 36.3% of them died. Hospitalized cirrhotic patients showed high mortality at 3 months, these patients at discharge revealed a high readmission within 3 months of follow up.