Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39962372›Full record

Observational studyBMC gastroenterology2025

Relationship between Sarcopenia and minimal hepatic encephalopathy in patients with cirrhosis: a prospective observational study.

Wasit Wongtrakul, Wimolrak Bandidniyamanon, Phunchai Charatcharoenwitthaya

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in BMC gastroenterology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Management of Refractory Hepatic Encephalopathy.Digestive diseases and sciences · 2026
    Review
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Wasit WongtrakulDivision of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Wimolrak BandidniyamanonDivision of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Phunchai CharatcharoenwitthayaDivision of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. phunchai@yahoo.com.

Funding

Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University NA
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSarcopenia, characterized by loss of muscle mass and function, has gained importance in the evaluation of cirrhotic patients. Evidence suggests its role in adverse clinical outcomes, including minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE). This study aimed to investigate the association between sarcopenia and MHE in patients with cirrhosis.

methodsWe prospectively enrolled outpatients with cirrhosis to assess sarcopenia using the 2019 criteria from the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia. MHE was diagnosed through the Psychometric Hepatic Encephalopathy Score.

resultsOf the 210 cirrhotic patients (57.1% male, mean age 62.7 ± 9.6 years), 54 (25.7%) had sarcopenia, with 26 (12.3%) classified as severe. Thirty-seven patients (17.6%) were diagnosed with MHE. Sarcopenia prevalence was significantly higher in patients with MHE compared to those without MHE (45.9% vs. 21.4%). MHE was significantly associated with age, education level, Mini-Mental State Examination score, and a history of hepatic decompensation. No significant associations were found regarding gender, body mass index, comorbidities, sleep quality, and the etiology of cirrhosis. Multivariable logistic regression showed that MHE was significantly associated with age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.08, 95% CI 1.02-1.13), sarcopenia (aOR 3.29, 95% CI 1.44-7.50), history of overt hepatic encephalopathy (aOR 7.40, 95% CI 1.20-45.56), and variceal bleeding (aOR 3.13, 95% CI 1.38-7.10). Severe sarcopenia was also independently associated with MHE (aOR 3.64, 95% CI 1.32-10.05).

conclusionsSarcopenia is prevalent in cirrhotic patients and is associated with an increased risk of MHE. Our findings emphasize the importance of assessing sarcopenia to potentially mitigate MHE risk in managing patients with cirrhosis.

Indexed as

Hepatic EncephalopathyLiver CirrhosisSarcopeniaAgedAge FactorsFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPrevalenceProspective StudiesRisk FactorsSeverity of Illness IndexCirrhosisHepatic decompensationMinimal hepatic encephalopathyPsychometric hepatic encephalopathy scoreSarcopenia

Identifiers

PMID39962372
PMCPMC11834310

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.