Timing of paracentesis and outcomes in hospitalized patients with decompensated cirrhosis

Table 1 Patients’ demographics

	EP (n = 65)	DP (n = 120)	P value
Gender, n (%)			0.43
Male	34 (52.3)	70 (58.3)
Female	31 (47.7)	50 (41.7)
Age (yr)
mean ± SD	63.7 ± 10.2	62.5 ± 11.1	0.80
Etiology, n (%)
Viral	20 (30.7)	45 (37.5)	0.35
Alcohol	26 (40.0)	46 (38.3)	0.82
Mixed	12 (18.4)	24 (20.0)	0.80
Other	7 (10.9)	5 (4.2)	0.15
Child-Pugh, n (%)
A	0	0	N/A
B	24 (36.9)	36 (30.0)	0.41
C	41 (63.1)	84 (70.0)	0.41
Child-Pugh score, mean ± SD	11.2 ± 2.9	11.9 ± 3	0.52
MELD-Na score, mean ± SD	21.4 ± 7.5	23.6 ± 8.8	0.28

EP: Early paracentesis group; DP: Delayed paracentesis group; SD: Standard deviation; N/A: Not applicable.

Table 2 Complications in the early paracentesis group and delayed paracentesis group

Complications, n (%)	EP (n = 65)	DP (n = 120)	P value
SBP	10 (15.3)	22 (18.3)	0.61
HE	14 (21.5)	54 (45.0)	< 0.01a
HRS	6 (9.2)	26 (21.6)	0.03a
UGIB	20 (30.5)	40 (33.3)	0.72
Infections	7 (10.7)	30 (25.0)	0.02a

^aP < 0.05. EP: Early paracentesis group.

DP: Delayed paracentesis group; SBP: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis; HE: Hepatic encephalopathy; HRS: Hepato-renal syndrome; UGIB: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Table 3 Time of admission, length of stay, in-hospital mortality, and 90-d readmission rate in the early paracentesis group and delayed paracentesis group

	EP (n = 65)	DP (n = 120)	P value
Admission, n (%)
Weekday	50 (76.9)	57 (47.5)	< 0.01a
Weekend	15 (23.1)	63 (52.5)
LOS (d)
mean ± SD	6.7 ± 3.8	12.2 ± 4.5	0.01a
In-hospital mortality, n (%)	4 (6.1)	21 (17.5)	0.03a
90-d readmission, n (%)	11 (18.0)	34 (34.3)	0.03a
Ascites	3 (27.3)	16 (47.0)
UGIB	5 (45.4)	7 (20.5)
HE	2 (18.3)	10 (29.5)
Other	1 (9.0)	1 (3.0)

^aP < 0.05. EP: Early paracentesis group; DP: Delayed paracentesis group; LOS: Length of stay; UGIB: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding; HE: Hepatic encephalopathy; SD: Standard deviation.

Table 4 The risk of complications developed during hospitalization in the early paracentesis group and delayed paracentesis group

Complication	Cases in the EP group, n (%)	Cases in the DP group, n (%)	OR	95%CI	P value
HE	14 (21.5)	54 (45)	2.98	1.49-5.95	< 0.01a
HRS	6 (9.2)	26 (21.6)	2.71	1.05-7.00	0.03a
Infections	7 (10.7)	30 (25.0)	2.76	1.13-6.70	0.02a
LOS ≥ 7 d	25 (47.6)	88 (73.3)	3.01	1.60-5.67	< 0.01a
In-hospital mortality	4 (6.1)	21 (17.5)	3.23	1.05-9.87	0.03a
90 d readmission	11 (18.0)	34 (34.3)	1.94	0.90-4.15	0.08

^aP < 0.05. EP: Early paracentesis group; DP: Delayed paracentesis group; HE: Hepatic encephalopathy; HRS: Hepato-renal syndrome; LOS: Length of stay; OR: Odds ratio; CI: Confidence interval.