Health status of patients with liver transplantation by alcohol-related disease vs another etiology: A cohort study

Abstract

Aim

To study the health status of a group of patients with liver transplantation by alcohol-related disease vs another etiology before and after the transplantation.

Method

Longitudinal cohort study of liver transplant patients from November 2019 to July 2022. Adult patients attended in the unit of transplantation of a hospital for a first liver transplant, both elective and urgent, were included. Patients who already had a transplanted organ and those who required liver re-transplantation in the first month after the first transplant were excluded. Sociodemographic and clinical variables, MELDNa, liver frailty index, emotional–behavioral effects of transplantation, level of anxiety and depression were collected. Pearson’s chi-square, Student’s t, Mann–Whitney U, and Wilcoxon sign tests were used for statistical analysis.

Results

The sample was n = 67 liver transplant patients with a mean age of 56.37 years, 67.2% being men and 39% due to alcohol-related liver disease. 9% of all included patients were urgent transplants. Alcohol consumption was associated with older age, a high rate of liver frailty, and a non-active work situation. Alcoholic etiology correlated with increased concern during the first six months after liver transplantation.

Conclusion

There are differences in the health status between liver transplant patients for alcohol-related liver disease vs other etiology. Nurses must consider the etiology of liver disease to guide care and interventions throughout the transplant process.