OBJECTIVE: Nutritional status of patients in the waiting list for liver transplant must be assessed due to the many risk factors associated with nutritional deficiencies. This was the aim of the study. METHODS: Throughout a period of 13 months, patients on the waiting list for liver transplantation were nutritionally assessed by the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) and food intake was assessed by using the 24 hour recall instrument. RESULTS: 159 patients were included, mean age 50.5 +10.6 years and 71.1% were men. Overall malnutrition according to SGA was 74.7%, with 28% of patients considered severely malnourished. Malnutrition was associated with Child-Pugh score, presence of ascites and/or edema, previous episodes of encephalopathy and use of three or more medications and lower levels of physical activity. Socio-economic aspects, etiology of the disease and MELD score did not affect the nutritional status (p = NS). Calorie needs were not reached by 90.7% of patients and 75.7% of them did not reach protein requirements. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, malnutrition is highly prevalent amongst patients on the waiting list for liver transplantation and most do not meet nutritional requirements which certainly contribute to the vicious cycle leading to a deranged nutritional status.
Malnutrition; Liver Transplantation; Eating
