Naim Abu-Freha1, Asia Estis-Deaton2, Muhammad Aasla2, Ohad Etzion1, Aerin Philip3, David Yardeni1, Muhammad Abo Abed2, Muhammad Abu Tailakh4. 1. The Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Soroka University Medical Center and the Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel. 2. Division of Internal Medicine, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel. 3. Medical School for International Health, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel. 4. Recanati School for Community Health Professions, Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel and Soroka University Medical Center, P.O.Box 653, 8410501, Beer-Sheva, Israel. abutaila@bgu.ac.il.
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.
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.