Liver cirrhosis in elderly patients: clinical characteristics, complications, and survival—analyses from a large retrospective study

Naim Abu-Freha, Asia Estis-Deaton, Muhammad Aasla, Ohad Etzion, Aerin Philip, David Yardeni, Muhammad Abo Abed, Muhammad Abu Tailakh

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Liver cirrhosis (LC) is a common disease diagnosed in all ages. With the increasing population age, LC is noticeable more in the clinics. Aim: To distinguish the clinical characteristics, complications, and survival of patients with liver cirrhosis. Methods: A retrospective study enrolled patients diagnosed with liver cirrhosis at Soroka University Medical Center. Patients with cirrhosis diagnosed at an age older than 65 years (group 1) were compared with patients diagnosed at an age younger than 65 years (group 2). Results: We included 1046 patients; 411 (39.3%) in group 1 and 635 (60.7%) in group 2. Fatty liver and cryptogenic liver disease were found to cause cirrhosis at a significantly higher rate in the elderly (23.4% vs. 13.9%, p < 0.001, 15.3% vs. 6.3%, p < 0.001, respectively). A higher rate of non-hepatocellular carcinoma cancers and mortality (17.5% vs. 9.1%, p < 0.001, 76.6% vs. 57%, respectively) was found among cirrhotic elderly patients, but a lower rate of oesophageal varices (47.7% vs. 60.1%, p = 0.002). Twenty-year follow-up Kaplan–Meier survival analysis for mortality estimated poor survival in the elderly (log-rank p < 0.001). The adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression model showed an association of age > 65 with an all-cause mortality hazard ratio of 2.26 (95% CI 1.89–2.69). Conclusion: Higher rates of fatty liver, cryptogenic cirrhosis, non-HCC cancers, and mortality were found among patients diagnosed with cirrhosis in the elderly.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2217-2223
Number of pages7
JournalAging Clinical and Experimental Research
Volume34
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - 7 Jun 2022

Keywords

  • Complications
  • Elderly
  • Fatty liver
  • Mortality

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Aging
  • Geriatrics and Gerontology

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