ASSOCIATION OF DECOMPENSATED LIVER CIRRHOSIS PATIENT'S MORTALITY RATE IN THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF HYPONATREMIA AND MELD SCORE (11 – 20)

Objectives: We aimed to determine the hyponatremia and low MELD score frequency in the bracket of (11 – 20) in decompensated liver cirrhosis patients. We also compared the mortality frequency in the chronic liver disease patients who presented MELD score (11 – 20) in the presence or absence of hyponatremia. Methodology: We secured an approval from an ethical committee of the hospital and we also took consent from the patients. We included all the patients who were diagnosed with decompensated liver cirrhosis from the emergency department and OPD as they were complying with the criteria of the research. Our research sample had been identified with MELD score and hyponatremia. We divided the total research sample into two groups by naming them as Group I and Group II. Group I and II respectively consisted of patients having the level of Sodium (Na) serum (< 135 m Eq/l) and in the range of (135 – 145 m Eq/l); whereas, the MELD score for both the groups was same that is (11 – 20). In the upcoming period of four months, the rate of mortality was also compared in both the groups. Every month a follow-up checkup was also carried out every week. A Performa was used for the data collection and record keeping. All the information was collected on proforma. We ensured that our research should not hamper the routine disease management of the patients. Results: Our research included 250 patients with mean age of (44.97 ± 9.06) years. We included 129 males (51.6%) and 121 females (48.4%). Research had a dominance of males over females. Low MELD score frequency in the absence and presence of hyponatremia was reported in the outcomes of this research as 58 with hyponatremia cases (23.2%); whereas, 66 cases were without hyponatremia (26.4%). We also observed that 126 cases (50.4%) had no low MELD score. Mortality rate was also compared and we observed that mortality was present in 58 cases in the presence and absence of hyponatremia in the low MELD score; with hyponatremia 23 low MELD score cases (39.65%); whereas, 13 cases of without hyponatremia (19.70%) with low MELD score (P-value = 0.01). Conclusion: It is concluded that decompensated liver cirrhosis patient’s mortality rate with hyponatremia and MELD score (11 – 20) was more than the patients without hyponatremia; however, for an optimum disease management these patients were referred such as in at an early stage of a liver transplant. Keywords: Low MELD Score, Decompensated Liver Cirrhosis, Mortality and Hyponatremia