Background/aims: Early detection and treatment of protein-energy malnutrition have great clinical significance in patients with liver disease. The aim of study was to evaluate the nutritional status and determine the prevalence of malnutrition in acute and chronic viral hepatitis in Chinese patients, especially in cirrhosis patients.
Methodology: A total of 315 patients were enrolled in this project, 20 patients with acute viral hepatitis, 142 patients with chronic viral hepatitis and 153 patients with posthepatitic liver cirrhosis. Recorded dietary nutrititional intakes and evaluated nutitional status by subjective global assessment, anthropometrics and biochemical data were carried out consecutively.
Results: According to the Chinese Dietary Recommended Nutrient Intakes based on sex and age, 73.0% +/- 29.66% of cirrhotic patients, 68.10% +/- 28.65% of chronic hepatitis patients, and 63.38% +/- 29.24% of acute hepatitis patients had deficient energy and nutrients intake. The prevalence of malnutrition was higher in the cirrhotic group as compared with the chronic or acute hepatitis groups according to the subjective global assessment, measured as triceps skinfold thickness in females, mid-upper arm muscle circumference in both male and female patients, albumin, prealbumin, hemoglobin, and serum transferrin (p < 0.05, respectively).
Conclusions: This study demonstrated that Chinese patients with acute and chronic viral hepatitis and liver cirrhosis had inadequate energy and nutritional intake. Protein-energy malnutrition was more severe in cirrhotic patients, indicating a need for early enteral and perenteral treatment.