Dataset Information

Outpatient albumin infusions reduce hospitalizations and improve outcomes in decompensated cirrhosis: A real-world cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aim

Long-term human albumin (HA) infusions improve survival in cirrhotic patients with diuretic resistant ascites. We aimed to determine whether there is a significant benefit in a more unwell real-world cohort.

Methods

This is a single-center retrospective cohort study. Patients received outpatient HA between April 2017 and June 2021. Inclusion criteria were age ≥18 years, cirrhosis with ascites, and received at least 1 month of HA. Patients with significant comorbidities and ongoing alcohol use were not excluded. Outcomes assessed were transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS)/transplant-free survival (TTFS), and biochemical and prognostic outcomes.

Results

Twenty-four patients were included. Median age was 59.5 years. Seven were female (29.2%). Etiology included were alcohol (50%), non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (16.7%), and viral/alcohol (12.5%). Median model for end-stage liver disease-sodium (MELD-Na) was 18.5, with Child-Pugh scores (CPS) A (4.2%), B (50%), and C (45.8%). Improvements in serum sodium (P = 0.014), albumin (P = 0.003), and CPS (P = 0.017) were observed. Reduction in hospitalizations (P = 0.001), particularly portal hypertensive related admissions was observed (relative risk 0.39; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.21-0.69, P = 0.003), needed to treat 2.09 (95% CI 1.25-3.67). There was a reduction in total paracentesis requirements (P = 0.005). On multivariate analysis, type 2 diabetes mellitus significantly increased risk of TIPS/transplant/death (hazard ratio 6.16; 95% CI 1.23-30.84, P = 0.027). Median TTFS improved in patients with a change in MELD-Na ≤1 at 1 month: 29.4 months versus 7.7 months (P = 0.011).

Conclusion

Outpatient HA infusions decrease portal hypertensive related hospital admissions, improve serum sodium, albumin levels, and CPS. Type 2 diabetes mellitus and change in MELD-Na score help discriminate those likely to benefit most.

SUBMITTER: Hannah N

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10463019 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Outpatient albumin infusions reduce hospitalizations and improve outcomes in decompensated cirrhosis: A real-world cohort study.

Hannah Nicholas N Tjandra Douglas D Patwardhan Ashwin A Rutland Kelsey K Halliday John J Sood Siddharth S

JGH open : an open access journal of gastroenterology and hepatology 20230727 8

<h4>Background and aim</h4>Long-term human albumin (HA) infusions improve survival in cirrhotic patients with diuretic resistant ascites. We aimed to determine whether there is a significant benefit in a more unwell real-world cohort.<h4>Methods</h4>This is a single-center retrospective cohort study. Patients received outpatient HA between April 2017 and June 2021. Inclusion criteria were age ≥18 years, cirrhosis with ascites, and received at least 1 month of HA. Patients with significant comorb ...[more]

PMID: 37649856

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Project description:Background & aimsLong-term albumin (LTA) is currently standard of care for patients with decompensated cirrhosis in many Italian hepatology centres. In this real-life study, we aimed to describe patient, logistical and treatment-related characteristics in daily clinical practice and to identify predictors of response.MethodsWe performed a multicentre, retrospective, observational study in patients with cirrhosis and ascites receiving LTA between 01/2016 and 02/2022 and followed until death, TIPS (transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt) placement, transplantation or 02/2023.ResultsA total of 312 patients, the majority with alcohol-related cirrhosis, were included. At baseline, median Child-Pugh, MELD, and MELD-Na were 8, 15, and 18, respectively. Ascites was grade 2 in 55% of patients, grade 3 in 35% and refractory in 27%, while 47% had received large volume paracentesis in the previous 6 months. Median LTA was 10 months with a median dose of 40 g/week. Ascites resolved to grade 0-1 in 34% of patients within the first 3 months and 56% by the end of treatment. Predictors of ascites resolution were age (p = 0.007), baseline grade of ascites (p = 0.007), no paracentesis in the previous 6 months (p = 0.001), aetiological treatment in the past 12 months or during LTA (p = 0.005), weekly albumin dose (p = 0.014) and serum albumin concentration of 40 g/L after 1 month of treatment (p = 0.017). Of the 83 patients with refractory ascites at inclusion, 26% had grade 0/1 ascites at the last observation. No severe albumin-related side-effects were reported and only 1% discontinued for logistical reasons.ConclusionsLTA is feasible as an outpatient treatment for the management of ascites. In the current study, ascites resolved in more than half of patients receiving LTA on top of diuretics, including in some with refractory ascites. Predictors of response to LTA provide useful information for tailoring treatment.Impact and implicationsThe ANSWER randomised-controlled trial has shown that long-term albumin treatment (LTA) is an effective approach for the management of patients with cirrhosis and ascites. This observational study provides novel information on target patients, modalities and length of treatment, predictors of ascites resolution, stopping criteria, and clinical trajectories of patients on treatment. LTA is a feasible option in the daily clinical practice for the management of ascites when given on top of diuretics. Rather than an alternative therapy, LTA should be integrated with the other treatment options already available for patients with difficult-to-treat ascites. The predictive factors of response identified in the present study can help physicians to individualise LTA and optimise the decision-making process.

Project description:ObjectiveThis study compared the costs and nursing time associated with the delivery of continuous infusion of antibiotics via elastomeric infusion pumps (EIP) versus conventional intermittent infusion (CII) across different care pathways.DesignRetrospective real-world data informed a cost comparison analysis that compared costs and nursing hours between infusion of antibiotics via EIP versus CII across eight care pathways in inpatient or outpatient care during infection episodes. Real-world data were obtained from patients treated within a year with parenteral antimicrobial therapy in Päijät-Häme Region, Finland.SettingInpatient care with hospital admission and outpatient care at hospital at home in Päijät-Häme Region in Finland.Participants3778 patients with a total of 4214 infection episodes treated with intravenous antimicrobial therapy.InterventionsEight treatment strategies with various combinations of EIP and CII administered in inpatient or outpatient care.Primary and secondary outcome measuresDirect costs and nursing time.ResultsSkin and soft tissue infections accounted for the highest number of episodes treated with EIP overall (30.8%; 74 out of 240 episodes) and in outpatient care specifically (53.3%; 128 out of 240 episodes). Compared with inpatient care costs with CII (€4590 per episode), treating skin and soft tissue infections in outpatient care with EIP or CII incurred only 24% (€1104) and 35% (€1620) of the costs, respectively. Across all treatment strategies and infections studied, the use of EIP consistently required less nursing time. The highest nursing time in the outpatient care was observed in sepsis episodes treated with CII (37 hours with CII vs 7 hours with EIP per episode).ConclusionDelivery of antimicrobial therapy using continuous infusions with EIP instead of CII can significantly decrease the nursing time and cost in both inpatient and outpatient care. For skin and soft tissue infections and sepsis, the utilisation of EIP is a cost-saving option in outpatient care compared with the use of CII.

Project description:Background and aimsCirculating albumin in cirrhosis can be dysfunctional because of accumulating structural damages, leading to the concept of effective albumin concentration (eAlb), referring to the albumin portion presenting structural and functional integrity. We aimed to estimate eAlb in patients with decompensated cirrhosis and analyze its relationships with albumin function and clinical outcomes as compared to total albumin concentration (tAlb).Approach and resultsWe evaluated 319 patients with cirrhosis hospitalized for acute decompensation (AD) with and without acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) and 18 age- and sex-comparable outpatients with compensated cirrhosis. tAlb was quantified by standard assay, whereas eAlb was estimated combining liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry and standard methods. Albumin binding and detoxification efficiency were evaluated by electron paramagnetic resonance analysis. Circulating albumin in patients with decompensated cirrhosis displayed multiple structural abnormalities, with reversible oxidation and glycation being the most frequent. As a result, eAlb progressively declined with the worsening of cirrhosis and was superior to tAlb in stratifying patients between compensated cirrhosis, AD, and ACLF, as well as patients with and without complications. Moreover, eAlb, but not tAlb, was closely associated with binding capacities in ACLF. Finally, eAlb at admission predicted the occurrence of ACLF within 30 days and mortality at 90 days better than tAlb.ConclusionsThis large, observational study provides the evidence in patients with decompensated cirrhosis that eAlb can be quantified and differentiated from tAlb routinely measured in clinical practice. As compared to tAlb, eAlb is more closely associated with disease severity and albumin dysfunction and carries a greater prognostic power. These results prompt future research assessing eAlb as a biomarker for predicting prognosis and treatment response.

Dataset Information

Outpatient albumin infusions reduce hospitalizations and improve outcomes in decompensated cirrhosis: A real-world cohort study.

Background and aim

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Outpatient albumin infusions reduce hospitalizations and improve outcomes in decompensated cirrhosis: A real-world cohort study.

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