Ruiz-Margáin, AstridMacías-Rodríguez, Ricardo UlisesAmpuero, JavierCubero, Francisco JavierChi-Cervera, LuisRíos-Torres, Silvia LDuarte-Rojo, AndrésEspinosa-Cuevas, ÁngelesRomero-Gómez, ManuelTorre, Aldo2017-03-272017-03-272016-12-07Ruiz-Margáin A, Macías-Rodríguez RU, Ampuero J, Cubero FJ, Chi-Cervera L, Ríos-Torres SL, et al. Low phase angle is associated with the development of hepatic encephalopathy in patients with cirrhosis. World J. Gastroenterol.. 2016; 22(45):10064-100701007-9327http://hdl.handle.net/10668/2598Journal Article;AIM Evaluate the association between phase angle and the development of hepatic encephalopathy in the long-term follow-up of cirrhotic patients. METHODS This was a prospective cohort study. Clinical, nutritional and biochemical evaluations were performed. Mann-Whitney's U and χ(2) tests were used as appropriate. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional Hazards analysis were used to evaluate the prediction and incidence of hepatic encephalopathy. RESULTS Two hundred and twenty were included; the most frequent etiology of cirrhosis was hepatitis C infection, 52% of the patients developed hepatic encephalopathy (18.6% covert and 33.3% overt); the main precipitating factors were infections and variceal bleeding. Kaplan-Meier curves showed a higher proportion of HE in the group with low phase angle (39%) compared to the normal phase angle group (13%) (P = 0.012). Furthermore, creatinine and phase angle remained independently associated to hepatic encephalopathy in the Cox regression multivariate analysis [hazard ratio = 1.80 (1.07-3.03)]. CONCLUSION In our cohort of patients low phase angle was associated with an increased incidence of hepatic encephalopathy. Phase angle is a useful nutritional marker that evaluates cachexia and could be used as a part of the integral assessment in patients with cirrhosis.enMalnutritionHepatic encephalopathyPhase angleCachexiaPrognosisEstudios de seguimientoVárices esofágicas y gástricasEncefalopatía hepáticaHepatitis CCirrosis hepáticaModelos de riesgos proporcionalesAnálisis de regresiónMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms::Signs and Symptoms::Body Weight::Body Weight Changes::Weight Loss::Emaciation::CachexiaMedical Subject Headings::Chemicals and Drugs::Heterocyclic Compounds::Heterocyclic Compounds, 1-Ring::Azoles::Imidazoles::CreatinineMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Digestive System Diseases::Gastrointestinal Diseases::Esophageal Diseases::Esophageal and Gastric VaricesMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Investigative Techniques::Epidemiologic Methods::Epidemiologic Study Characteristics as Topic::Epidemiologic Studies::Cohort Studies::Longitudinal Studies::Follow-Up StudiesMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Digestive System Diseases::Gastrointestinal Diseases::Gastrointestinal HemorrhageMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Digestive System Diseases::Liver Diseases::Hepatic Insufficiency::Liver Failure::Hepatic EncephalopathyMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Virus Diseases::Hepatitis, Viral, Human::Hepatitis C::Hepatitis C, ChronicMedical Subject Headings::Organisms::Eukaryota::Animals::Chordata::Vertebrates::Mammals::Primates::Haplorhini::Catarrhini::Hominidae::HumansMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Investigative Techniques::Epidemiologic Methods::Data Collection::Vital Statistics::Morbidity::IncidenceMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Digestive System Diseases::Liver Diseases::Liver CirrhosisMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Investigative Techniques::Epidemiologic Methods::Statistics as Topic::Analysis of Variance::Multivariate AnalysisMedical Subject Headings::Health Care::Health Care Quality, Access, and Evaluation::Quality of Health Care::Epidemiologic Factors::Causality::Precipitating FactorsMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Investigative Techniques::Epidemiologic Methods::Statistics as Topic::Models, Statistical::Proportional Hazards ModelsMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Investigative Techniques::Epidemiologic Methods::Epidemiologic Study Characteristics as Topic::Epidemiologic Studies::Cohort Studies::Longitudinal Studies::Prospective StudiesMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Investigative Techniques::Epidemiologic Methods::Statistics as Topic::Regression Analysisresearch article28018114open access10.3748/wjg.v22.i45.100642219-2840PMC5143753