Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40351952›Full record

ArticleCureus2025

Association of Low BMI, Elevated Model for End-Stage Liver Disease Score, and Poor Functional Status With Increased 30-Day Readmission After Orthotopic Liver Transplant: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Justin Lok, John Paliakkara, Catherine O'Leary, Ruston Keller, Alexxis Gutierrez, Aniketh Naidu, Raymond I Okeke, Mustafa Nazzal

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cureus, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Justin LokGeneral Surgery, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, USA.
John PaliakkaraFamily Medicine, Upstate University Hospital, Syracuse, USA.
Catherine O'LearyMedicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, USA.
Ruston KellerSurgery, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, USA.
Alexxis GutierrezSurgery, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, USA.
Aniketh NaiduSurgery, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, USA.
Raymond I OkekeGeneral Surgery, SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital, St. Louis, USA.
Mustafa NazzalSurgery, Saint Louis University Hospital, St. Louis, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background Liver transplantation is the ultimate treatment for end-stage liver disease. However, post-transplant management is very complex, with the need for meticulous immunosuppression regimens and multidisciplinary coordinated specialist care. This can be complicated by a higher risk of readmissions after transplant. Readmission rates are now being used as a measure of a facility's efficacy post-transplant. In this study, we investigated recipient characteristics that may place recipients at higher risk for 30-day readmission. Method Chi-square and independent t-test analyses of six variables were performed accordingly on liver transplant recipient data extracted from the Standard Transplant Analysis and Research (STAR) data. The variables were Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score, body mass index (BMI), age, diabetes status, hepatitis C status, and functional status. The association between these variables and 30-day readmission rates was investigated. Results We observed six recipient risk factors, including elevated MELD score, positive diabetes mellitus status, positive hepatitis C status, and lower functional status, which increase hospitalization post-transplant. Of the six examined characteristics, lower BMI, elevated MELD score, and lower functional status were significantly associated with 30-day readmission. The t values and P values were as follows: t(38,180) = 4.080, P = 4.514E-05 for BMI; t(38,180) = 4.080, P = 4.514E-05 for MELD score; and t(38,180) = 2.729, P = 6.356E-03 for functional status. Conclusion Our study shows that liver transplant recipients with lower BMI, higher average MELD score, and lower functional status can be identified as high-risk recipients for readmission within 30 days after liver transplant. These findings might help transplant centers anticipate higher complication rates and possibly implement better nutritional optimization prior to transplant and closer follow-up after transplant. Further research could identify specific thresholds for these characteristics that are associated with significantly worse outcomes.

Indexed as

30-day readmissionbody mass index (bmi)meld scoresorthotopic liver transplantationtransplant recipient

Identifiers

PMID40351952
PMCPMC12061544

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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.