Pre-transplant physical performance, muscle quality, and body composition as predictors of post-liver transplant outcomes: a retrospective cohort study.

A 6-minute walk distance greater than 450 meters was associated with a 76% reduction in the risk of post-transplant mortality.

• In the fully adjusted model, 6MWD > 450 m was associated with HR = 0.24 (p-trend = 0.049).
• The study used Cox regression models to evaluate the association between 6MWT performance and post-transplant mortality.
• The 6-minute walk test was conducted as part of pre-transplant assessments in 127 cirrhotic patients.

Higher lean body mass to fat mass ratio (LBM/FM) was associated with significantly reduced post-transplant mortality.

• HR = 0.33, 95% CI 0.1–0.99 in the fully adjusted model.
• LBM/FM was measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) pre-transplant.
• This finding was derived from a retrospective cohort of 127 cirrhotic patients undergoing liver transplantation between 2022 and 2023.

Stronger pre-transplant handgrip strength (HGS) was associated with significantly reduced post-transplant mortality.

• HR = 0.17, 95% CI 0.04–0.73 in the fully adjusted model.
• HGS was assessed as part of pre-transplant evaluations and analyzed using Cox regression models.
• This represents an approximately 83% reduction in the risk of mortality associated with stronger handgrip strength.

Higher skeletal muscle index (SMI) at the T12 and L3 vertebral levels was associated with shorter post-transplant hospital length of stay.

• SMI at T12 was associated with shorter LOS (p = 0.047) and SMI at L3 was associated with shorter LOS (p = 0.035).
• Associations were analyzed using linear regression models.
• SMI was measured at both T12 and L3 levels as part of pre-transplant assessments.

The study enrolled 127 cirrhotic patients who underwent liver transplantation between 2022 and 2023 and assessed multiple pre-transplant physical and body composition measures.

• Pre-transplant assessments included the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), handgrip strength (HGS), and skeletal muscle indices (SMI).
• Post-transplant outcomes analyzed included hospital length of stay (LOS) and mortality.
• Statistical analyses used Cox and linear regression models.
• The study design was a retrospective cohort study.

Sarcopenia, marked by muscle loss and weakness, is common in cirrhotic patients undergoing liver transplantation and is associated with poor postoperative outcomes.

• The paper identifies sarcopenia as a strong predictor of liver transplant prognosis.
• Management of sarcopenia before liver transplantation may reduce mortality, according to the authors.
• The study emphasizes the importance of muscle assessments in pre-transplant evaluations.