Retrospective Study
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2022.
World J Transplant. Jun 18, 2022; 12(6): 120-130
Published online Jun 18, 2022. doi: 10.5500/wjt.v12.i6.120
Table 1 Baseline patient characteristics based on gender and presence of sarcopenia defined by low appendicular lean mass[8]

Non-sarcopenic (n = 355, 75.7%)
Sarcopenic (n = 114, 24.3%)
P value
Age, indication for transplantation55 (48, 60)54 (46, 58)0.253
Viral hepatitis 106 (30%)32 (28%)0.715
Alcohol30 (8%)21 (18%)0.003a
Hepatoma96 (27%)26 (23%)0.370
PBC/PSC/AIH66 (19%)18 (16%)0.497
Bilirubin (μmol/L)57 (28, 114)47.5 (25, 91.5)0.324
Albumin (g/L)29 (24, 33)30 (25, 25)0.172
INR1.4 (1.2, 1.7)1.4 (1.2, 1.6)0.786
Ascites188 (53%)71 (62%)0.082
Encephalopathy163 (46%)57 (50%)0.401
MELD score16 (12, 20)16 (12, 19)0.934
Operative data
Total operative time (min)465 (397, 534)445 (291, 510)0.162
Peak ALT884 (509, 1525)933 (496, 1494)0.991
Cold ischaemic time (min)381 (318, 479)384 (303, 473)0.530
Warm ischaemic time (min)45 (39, 52)44 (38, 50)0.212
RBC transfusions (units)2 (0, 4)2 (0, 5)0.008a
Table 2 The association of pre-transplant variables and 180-d post-transplant sepsis
Males (n = 338)
Females (n = 131)
HR (95%CI)
P value
HR (95%CI)
P value
MELD1.04 (1.00, 1.08)0.0511.06 (0.99, 1.12)0.074
APLM1.03 (0.87, 1.21)0.760.93 (0.70, 1.24)0.63
Upper limb LM0.42 (0.20, 0.89)0.024a0.74 (0.19, 2.95)0.67
Lower limb LM1.09 (0.92, 1.30)0.330.93 (0.67, 1.28)0.66
Total LM1.07 (0.99, 1.15)0.080.89 (0.76, 1.03)0.12
Total fat mass0.98 (0.91, 1.05)0.500.99 (0.90, 1.08)0.76
Ascites2.18 (1.32, 3.59)0.002a2.14 (0.95, 4.82)0.06
Table 3 The association of pre-transplant variables and acute cellular rejection within ninety days of liver transplantation
Males (n = 338)
Females (n = 131)
HR (95%CI)
P value
HR (95%CI)
P value
MELD0.93 (0.89, 0.97)0.0021.04 (0.99, 1.09)0.14
APLM0.87 (0.72, 1.05)0.161.10 (0.87. 1.4)0.43
Upper limb LM1.34 (0.67, 2.68)0.410.43 (0.12, 1.51)0.19
Lower limb LM0.80 (0.63, 1.01)0.0631.17 (0.90, 1.52)0.23
Total LM0.83 (0.74, 0.92)< 0.001a1.05 (0.95, 1.17)0.32
Total fat mass0.93 (0.87, 1.00)0.0621.03 (0.95, 1.12)0.50
BMI0.91 (0.86, 0.96)< 0.001a1.02 (0.97, 1.08)0.45
Ascites0.43 (0.26, 0.70)< 0.001a1.51 (0.76, 3.00)0.24
Table 4 Correlation of variables at transplant assessment with post-transplant total hospital and intensive care length of stay
Males (n = 338)
Females (n = 131)
Correlation1b)
P value1
Correlation2b)
P value2
Correlation1b)
P value1
Correlation2b)
P value2
Age< -0.0010.980.0550.140.084-0.180.0470.44
Total APLM-0.0270.48-0.0040.91-0.0290.65-0.0120.84
Upper limb LM-0.100.0078a-0.0900.015a-0.0790.210.0190.75
Lower limb LM< 0.0010.990.0170.64-0.0180.76-0.0180.76
Total LM0.320.037a0.0550.13-0.0120.84-0.0120.84
Total fat mass0.0360.330.0480.200.0390.530.0390.53
MELD0.0780.045a0.00870.058-0.0370.560.0870.17
Table 5 Correlation of model for end stage liver disease score and body composition parameters

Males (τb)
P value
Females (τb)
P value
APLM0.0710.0560.150.01a
Upper limb LM-0.14< 0.001a-0.0770.20
Lower limb LM0.12< 0.001a0.180.0024a
Total LM0.22< 0.001a0.180.0036a
Fat mass-0.040.27-0.0970.11