Published online Dec 27, 2020. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v12.i12.1276
Peer-review started: July 28, 2020
First decision: August 22, 2020
Revised: September 7, 2020
Accepted: November 5, 2020
Article in press: November 5, 2020
Published online: December 27, 2020
Processing time: 142 Days and 17 Hours
One of the main clinical complications of liver cirrhosis is protein-calorie malnutrition, the prevalence of which can vary from 10% to 100%, regardless of the stage and etiology of the disease, but which negatively interferes with the general prognosis of the disease. Therefore, determining the behavior of body composition (cellularity and hydration) using the bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) method, seems to be a promising method for improving the health of patients with liver cirhosis, expanding their life expectancy and quality of life.
There are few studies on the assessment of body composition and functioning in cirrhotic patients, which directly impacts the overall clinical management of these patients. We believe that with the BIVA method we can gain a new tool for analyzing body homeostasis in this population.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of the BIVA regarding hydration and cellularity, and compare them with the phase angle and other clinical parameters in cirrhotic patients.
This was a retrospective cross-sectional study with data collected between May 2007 and December 2015, at the Santa Casa de Misericórdia Hospital Complex in Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. The data obtained were related to the protocol for routine pre- and postoperative care at the service’s outpatient clinic. Quantitative variables were described by the mean and standard deviation and the categorical variables by absolute and relative frequencies. One-way ANOVA was used to compare the means, complemented by Tukey’s test. In the comparison of proportions, the Chi-square test was applied along with the analysis of adjusted residuals. For control of confounding factors, the Poisson regression analysis was applied to the factors that presented a P < 0.10 in the bivariate analysis.
A total of 190 patients with cirrhosis undergoing outpatient follow-up were included for data collection. The BIVA method showed an association with the staging of cirrhosis, showing worsening of cellularity (integrity and functionality) and worsening of the hydroelectrolytic distribution in patients with greater disease severity.
The BIVA method makes it possible to identify the cellularity and hydration status of cirrhotic patients, being associated with clinical factors that determine the severity of the disease, such as age, staging and PA.
The BIVA method is a new tool for evaluating body composition in cirrhotic patients, especially in those with asymmetry, allowing an early and specific nutritional assessment in each case, and helps to improve the clinical condition of these patients.