Decreased appetite is associated with the presence of sarcopenia in patients with cirrhosis.

OBJECTIVES

To our knowledge, the relationship between appetite and sarcopenia in patients with cirrhosis is unknown. The aims of this study were to examine the factors associated with decreased appetite and to clarify the relationship between appetite and sarcopenia.

METHODS

This study included 61 patients with cirrhosis. The patients were asked to describe their appetite using a numerical rating scale (NRS) from 0 (none at all) to 10 (most), with ≤5 defined as decreased appetite. The clinical characteristics, gastrointestinal symptoms as assessed using the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale, handgrip strength, and skeletal muscle area at the third vertebra were collected retrospectively. Sarcopenia was diagnosed according to the criteria of the Japan Society of Hepatology. The differences in these factors between patients with and without decreased appetite, and the factors associated with the presence of sarcopenia were examined.

RESULTS

Alcoholic liver disease was the most common etiology. The median Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score was 8 (interquartile range = 7 - 10) and hepatocellular carcinoma was present in 35 patients. Overall, 36% of the patients with cirrhosis had decreased appetite. Patients with decreased appetite had a higher frequency of abdominal pain and acid reflux-related symptoms and significantly lower handgrip strength than patients without, among both men (P = 0.034) and women (P = 0.017). The multivariate analysis identified a decrease in appetite as a significant factor associated with the presence of sarcopenia (NRS one increase, odds ratio, 0.701; 95% confidence interval, 0.502-0.977; P = 0.036).

CONCLUSION

Decreased appetite was associated with the presence of sarcopenia.