Kobayashi S. Importance of comprehensive nutritional assessment in predicting survival in cirrhosis. World J Hepatol 2025; 17(5): 106606 [DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v17.i5.106606]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Shinichiro Kobayashi, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Ohmura, Nagagasaki 852-8501, Nagasaki, Japan. skobayashi1980@gmail.com
Research Domain of This Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Article-Type of This Article
Letter to the Editor
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Hepatol. May 27, 2025; 17(5): 106606 Published online May 27, 2025. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v17.i5.106606
Importance of comprehensive nutritional assessment in predicting survival in cirrhosis
Shinichiro Kobayashi
Shinichiro Kobayashi, Department of Surgery, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagagasaki 852-8501, Nagasaki, Japan
Author contributions: Kobayashi S wrote the original draft and read and approved the final version of the manuscript.
Supported by Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research C, No. 24K11935.
Conflict-of-interest statement: There are no financial or other relations that could lead to a conflict of interest regarding this study.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Shinichiro Kobayashi, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Ohmura, Nagagasaki 852-8501, Nagasaki, Japan. skobayashi1980@gmail.com
Received: March 4, 2025 Revised: March 20, 2025 Accepted: April 2, 2025 Published online: May 27, 2025 Processing time: 86 Days and 4.9 Hours
Abstract
Carteri et al reaffirmed the value of the Child-Turcotte-Pugh score in predicting survival in patients with cirrhosis. However, the lack of association with nutritional markers warrants careful interpretation. In cirrhosis, complex conditions often lead to malnutrition and individual markers may not be fully captured. Comprehensive assessments such as Subjective Global Assessment, handgrip strength, muscle mass measurements, and bioelectrical impedance analysis can improve risk stratification and inform personalized nutritional management. This letter emphasizes the need for standardized nutritional assessments for patients with cirrhosis and further research to clarify their impact on long-term outcomes, potentially improving patient care.
Core Tip: Carteri et al highlighted the role of the Child-Turcotte-Pugh score in cirrhosis prognosis but neglected comprehensive nutrition. This letter emphasizes standardized tools such as Subjective Global Assessment and bioelectrical impedance analysis for risk assessment and hepatic encephalopathy management. We advocate longitudinal studies and multidisciplinary care to improve outcomes, particularly post-transplantation outcomes.
