Winnie Tatiana Bekolo Nga*, Servais A. F. Eloumou Bagnaka, Antonin Wilson Ndjitoyap Ndam, Atangana Offiala, Agnès Malongue, Christian Tzeuton, Dominique Noah Noah, Oudou Njoya, Firmin Ankouane Andoulo, Luma H. Namme
Introduction: Protein energy malnutrition is a common complication and a factor of morbidity and mortality in cirrhosis. Our study aimed to determine the prevalence of malnutrition in Cameroonian cirrhotic patients.
Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study from December 15, 2019, to April 15, 2020. It was framed at 04 hospitals in Douala and Yaoundé. We included patients with cirrhosis aged over 18 who agreed to participate. The data collected were clinical and paraclinical. Subjective Global Assessment (SGA), triceps skinfold (TSF), and arm muscle circumference (AMC) were used for nutritional assessment. The associated factors were sought by univariate and multivariate analyses. The significance level was set at 0.05.
Results: 75 patients agreed to participate in our study. The average age was 56 ± 15.8 years. The male gender accounted for 52% (N=39) of the patients. The most common etiologie was viral hepatitis B in 50.67% (N=38). The most frequent clinical signs were early satiety (N=47), ascitis (N=40). The Child-Pugh score was C in 21.3% (N=16). The prevalence of malnutrition was 46.6% (N=35), 60% (N=45) and 94.7% (N=71) according to SGA, AMC and TSF respectively. The factors associated with malnutrition are a Child-pugh C score (p=0.00), recent hospitalization (p=0.03), anorexia (p=0.00), ascites (p=0.003), hypoalbuminemia (p=0.00) and elevated serum creatinine (p=0.00).
Conclusion: The prevalence of malnutrition was 46.6%, 60%, and 94.7% respectively according to SGA, AMC, TSF. The factors associated with malnutrition are recent hospitalization, anorexia, ascites, the Child-Pugh C score, hypoalbuminemia, and high creatinine.
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