Handgrip Strength Adds More Prognostic Value to the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease Score Than Imaging-Based Measures of Muscle Mass in Men With Cirrhosis

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia is associated with mortality in cirrhosis but there is no gold standard for its diagnosis. The comparative utility of different diagnostic methods is unknown. METHODS: This single centre observational cohort study followed 145 men referred for liver transplant evaluation between 2005 and 2012. Muscle mass was estimated by handgrip strength, Dual Energy Xray Absorptiometry (DEXA) lean mass and single slice CT scan at the 4th lumbar vertebra. Recorded outcomes included time-to-death or liver transplantation. RESULTS: The median age was 54 years [47; 59] and median MELD score 17 [14; 23]. Of 145 men, 56 died, with a median time-to-death of 7.44 months [3.48, 14.16]. Seven..