A Cross Sectional Study for Determining Prevalence of Sarcopenia and Myosteatosis in Cirrhotic Patients and to Study the Association Between Imaging and Clinical Parameters

Cirrhosis is associated with a wide variety of metabolic changes in the body. Ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, variceal bleeding, renal dysfunction, and hepatocellular carcinoma are the most widely recognised complications in cirrhosis. Malnutrition and muscle wasting (sarcopenia) constitute common complications, which are generally overlooked, but which negatively impact the survival, quality of life, and response to stressors like infections, sepsis and surgery in cirrhotic patients. Cirrhotic patients with sarcopenia and myosteatosis have a higher risk of overt hepatic encephalopathy and hyperammonemia.1 It has also been shown that the patients with sarcopenia have a lower overall survival than those without sarcopenia. The aim of the current study is to study the prevalence of myosteatosis and sarcopenia in cirrhotic patients, and to compare the clinical and anthropometric parameters for sarcopenia and myosteatosis to that of imaging parameters (CT based diagnosis). We hypothesize that myosteatosis and sarcopenia can be estimated better with the use of CT scan as compared with clinical assessment and hence, may help in early diagnosis of these conditions.