Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy Is Associated With Falls


Por: Roman, E, Cordoba, J, Torrens, M, Torras, X, Villanueva, C, Vargas, V, Guarner, C, Soriano, G

Publicada: 1 mar 2011
Resumen:
OBJECTIVES: Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) reduces quality of life and impacts daily functioning. It is known to impair fitness to drive, but deficits in attention and reaction may also be associated with falls. Falls may have important consequences in patients with cirrhosis due to coagulopathy, osteoporosis, and operative risk. However, the relationship between MHE and falls has not yet been evaluated. The objective of this study is to retrospectively investigate whether MHE is associated with falls in patients with cirrhosis. METHODS: We included 130 cirrhotic outpatients and 43 controls. MHE was diagnosed according to the results of the psychometric hepatic encephalopathy score (PHES). We recorded the reported incidence and number of falls in the 12 months before the study, the severity of injuries, and the need for healthcare services. RESULTS: Forty-five (34.6%) patients with cirrhosis exhibited MHE. The proportion of patients with MHE that reported falls (40%) was higher than those without MHE (12.9%, P < 0.001), which was similar to controls (11.6%). In patients with MHE, there was a higher need for primary healthcare services (8.8 vs. 0%, P = 0.004) and hospitalization (6.6 vs. 2.3%, P = 0.34) due to falls than in patients without MHE. Patients on psychoactive drugs (n = 21) showed a stronger association between MHE and falls: 6/8 (75%) patients with MHE presented falls vs. 2/13 (15.3%) patients without MHE (P = 0.01). In patients not receiving psychoactive drugs (n = 109), the incidence of falls was 12/37 (32.4%) in patients with MHE vs. 9/72 (12.5%) in those without MHE (P = 0.01). Multivariate analysis showed that MHE (odds ratio (OR): 2.91, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.13-7.48, P = 0.02), previous encephalopathy (OR: 2.87, 95 % CI: 1.10-7.50, P = 0.03), and antidepressant therapy (OR: 3.91, 95 % CI: 0.96-15.9, P = 0.05) were independent factors associated to previous falls. CONCLUSIONS: Falls are more frequent in cirrhotic patients with MHE, particularly in those on treatment with psychoactive drugs, and are a significant cause for healthcare and hospitalization requirements.

Filiaciones:
Roman, E:
 Univ Autonoma Barcelona, Dept Gastroenterol, Inst Biomed Res IIB St Pau, Hosp Santa Creu & St Pau, Barcelona 08041, Spain

 Inst Salud Carlos III, CIBERehd, Madrid, Spain

Cordoba, J:
 Inst Salud Carlos III, CIBERehd, Madrid, Spain

 Hosp Valle De Hebron, Liver Unit, Barcelona, Spain

 Univ Autonoma Barcelona, Dept Med, E-08193 Barcelona, Spain

Torrens, M:
 Hosp Valle De Hebron, Liver Unit, Barcelona, Spain

Torras, X:
 Univ Autonoma Barcelona, Dept Gastroenterol, Inst Biomed Res IIB St Pau, Hosp Santa Creu & St Pau, Barcelona 08041, Spain

 Inst Salud Carlos III, CIBERehd, Madrid, Spain

Villanueva, C:
 Univ Autonoma Barcelona, Dept Gastroenterol, Inst Biomed Res IIB St Pau, Hosp Santa Creu & St Pau, Barcelona 08041, Spain

 Inst Salud Carlos III, CIBERehd, Madrid, Spain

Vargas, V:
 Inst Salud Carlos III, CIBERehd, Madrid, Spain

 Hosp Valle De Hebron, Liver Unit, Barcelona, Spain

 Univ Autonoma Barcelona, Dept Med, E-08193 Barcelona, Spain

Guarner, C:
 Univ Autonoma Barcelona, Dept Gastroenterol, Inst Biomed Res IIB St Pau, Hosp Santa Creu & St Pau, Barcelona 08041, Spain

 Inst Salud Carlos III, CIBERehd, Madrid, Spain

Soriano, G:
 Univ Autonoma Barcelona, Dept Gastroenterol, Inst Biomed Res IIB St Pau, Hosp Santa Creu & St Pau, Barcelona 08041, Spain

 Inst Salud Carlos III, CIBERehd, Madrid, Spain
ISSN: 00029270





AMERICAN JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY
Editorial
LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS, TWO COMMERCE SQ, 2001 MARKET ST, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103 USA, Estados Unidos America
Tipo de documento: Article
Volumen: 106 Número: 3
Páginas: 476-482
WOS Id: 000288064200014
ID de PubMed: 20978484

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