Dyspnea and respiratory muscle strength in end-stage liver disease

Table 3 Comparison of model for end-stage liver disease score, modified medical research council dyspnea score, and respiratory muscle strength indices between ascites and non-ascites liver disease patients

	All patients (n = 40)	Ascites (n = 17)	Non-ascites (n = 23)	P value
MELD	14 ± 6	17 ± 7	12 ± 5	0.0061
mMRC	2.0 ± 1.2	2.2 ± 1.1	1.9 ± 1.2	0.4441
Pemax, %pred	105 ± 35	87 ± 30	118 ± 33	0.004
Pimax, %pred	90 ± 29	72 ± 20	103 ± 28	< 0.001
RMS, %pred	97 ± 30	79 ± 23	110 ± 28	< 0.001

Values are mean ± SD obtained in a sitting position. Statistical significance tested with Student’s t test between ascites and non-ascites groups.

¹For MELD and mMRC Mann-Whitney rank sum test was used. MELD: Model for end-stage liver disease; mMRC: Modified medical research council; Pemax: Maximum static expiratory mouth pressure; %pred: Percent of predicted; Pimax: Maximum static inspiratory mouth pressure; RMS: Respiratory muscle strength.