Investigation on the short‐term outcome and prognostic impact of predisposition, and precipitants in inpatients with chronic liver disease from Chinese AcuTe on CHronic LIver FailurE (CATCH‐LIFE) cohorts

The study aimed to investigate the short‐term outcomes of hospitalized patients with chronic liver disease (CLDs) and assess the prognostic impact of predisposition and precipitants, which currently remains unclear. The study included 3970 hospitalized patients with CLDs from two prospective longitudinal multicenter studies (NCT02457637 and NCT03641872) conducted in highly endemic hepatitis B virus (HBV) areas. Competing risk analysis was used to evaluate the effect of predispositions, including the etiology and severity of CLDs and precipitants; on sequential 28, 90, and 365‐day liver transplantation (LT)‐free mortality. Among all enrolled patients, 76.8% of adverse outcomes (including death and LT) within one year occurred within 90 days. Compared with alcoholic etiology, the association of HBV etiology with poorer outcomes was remarkably on the 28thday (hazard ratio [HR], 1.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07–3.06; p= 0.026); however, and diminished or became insignificant at 90 days and 365 days. Cirrhosis increased the adjusted risk for 365‐day (HR, 1.50; CI, 1.13–1.99; p= 0.004) LT‐free mortality when compared with noncirrhosis. In patients with cirrhosis, prior decompensation (PD) independently increased the adjusted risk of 365‐day LT‐free mortality by 1.25‐fold (p= 0.021); however, it did not increase the risk for 90‐day mortality. Neither the category nor the number of precipitants influenced the adjusted risk of 28 or 90‐day LT‐free mortality. The 90‐day outcome should be considered a significant endpoint for evaluating the short‐term prognosis of hospitalized patients with CLD. Predisposing factors, other than etiology, mainly affected the delayed (365‐day) outcome. Timely effective therapy for CLD etiology, especially antiviral treatments for HBV, and post‐discharge long‐term surveillance monitoring in cirrhotic patients undergoing PD are suggested to enhance disease management and reduce mortality. This study revealed the predisposition and precipitant factors that affect short‐term outcomes in hospitalized patients with chronic liver diseases (CLDs). Numerous 1‐year adverse outcomes (death and liver transplantation) occurred within 90 days in CLDs. The 90‐day outcome should be considered a major endpoint for evaluating the short‐term prognosis of hospitalized patients with CLDs. Predisposing factors, other than etiology, mainly impacted the delayed short‐term outcome. Compared to alcoholic etiology, hepatitis B virus (HBV) had a significantly poorer 28‐day outcome. Timely antiviral therapy for HBV and post‐discharge long‐term surveillance monitoring in patients with cirrhosis with prior decompensation are suggested to enhance disease management. Significant findings of the studyNumerous 1‐year adverse outcomes (death and liver transplantation) occurred within 90 days in chronic liver diseases (CLDs). Predisposing factors, other than etiology, mainly impacted the delayed short‐term outcome. Compared to alcoholic etiology, hepatitis B virus (HBV) had a significantly poorer 28‐day outcome.What this study addsThe 90‐day outcome should be considered a major endpoint for evaluating the short‐term prognosis of hospitalized patients with CLDs. Timely antiviral therapy for HBV and postdischarge long‐term surveillance monitoring in patients with cirrhosis with prior decompensation are suggested to enhance disease management. Significant findings of the study Numerous 1‐year adverse outcomes (death and liver transplantation) occurred within 90 days in chronic liver diseases (CLDs). Predisposing factors, other than etiology, mainly impacted the delayed short‐term outcome. Compared to alcoholic etiology, hepatitis B virus (HBV) had a significantly poorer 28‐day outcome. What this study adds The 90‐day outcome should be considered a major endpoint for evaluating the short‐term prognosis of hospitalized patients with CLDs. Timely antiviral therapy for HBV and postdischarge long‐term surveillance monitoring in patients with cirrhosis with prior decompensation are suggested to enhance disease management.