The impact of diabetes mellitus in mortality of patients with compensated liver cirrhosis-a prospective study.

BACKGROUND It has been suggested that DM may reduce survival of patients with liver cirrhosis (LC). Nevertheless only few prospective studies assessing the impact of DM on mortality of cirrhotic patients have been published, none in compensated LC. AIMS (i) to study the impact of DM on mortality and (ii) to identify predictors of death. METHODS Patients with compensated LC with and without DM were studied. Survival was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier Method. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to determine independent predictors of mortality. RESULTS 110 patients were included: 60 without DM and 50 with DM. Diabetic patients had significantly higher frequency of cryptogenic cirrhosis, anemia, hypoalbuminemia, and hypercreatininemia. They also had significantly higher BMI and Child-Pugh score. The 2.5-years cumulative survival was significantly lower in patients with DM (48 vs. 69%, p < 0.05). By univariate analysis: DM, female gender, serum creatinine > 1.5 mg/dL, Child-Pugh score class C and cryptogenic cirrhosis were significant. However, only serum creatinine > 1.5 mg/dL and Child-Pugh score class C were independent predictors of death. CONCLUSION DM was associated with a significant increase in mortality in patients with compensated liver cirrhosis. Serum creatinine > 1.5 mg/dL and Child-Pugh score class C were independent predictors of death.