Abstract

Author(s): Sousa, Francisca Isabelle da Silva1; Moreira, Tyciane Maria Vieira1; Medeiros, Lívia Torres1; Daltro, Ana Filomena Camacho Santos2; Matos, Maria Rosimar Teixeira3; Portugal, Mileda Lima Torres4; Batista, Ana Clara Vital3; Garcia, José Huygens Parente1

Introduction: liver cirrhosis leads to several organic and functional changes that impact on nutritional status.

Objective: To assess the risk and nutritional status of patients with liver cirrhosis at a university hospital.

Methods: cross-sectional study, comprising 100 patients over 18 years of age. Sociodemographic, anthropometric and functional data were collected. The anthropometric parameters used were body mass index, body cir cum - ference, skinfolds and handgrip strength. The following screenings were used: Subjective Global Assessment, Royal Free Hospital - Global Assessment and Royal Free Hospital Nutritional Prioritizing Tool. Pearson's Chi-square test and Spearman's correlation were used, considering a signi - ficance level of 5%.

Results: There was a predominance of men (57.0%), with a mean age of 51.9 ± 11.69 years. There was a predo - minance of high nutritional risk (55%) and malnutrition. Among the subjective methods, malnutrition was detected mainly by the Royal Free Hospital - Global Assessment. Considering all parameters, malnutrition was detected mainly by the handgrip strength, which was positively correlated with body mass index (r = 0.207; p <0.039), arm muscle circumference (r = 0.232; p = 0.020), adductor pollicis muscle thickness (r = 0.206; p = 0.040) and corrected arm muscle area (r = 0.160; p = 0.113).

Discussion: studies show that patients with liver disease have a high nutritional risk and a high prevalence of malnutrition.

Conclusion: The studied population was found to be at high nutritional risk and malnourished, mainly due to the lower handgrip strength.