title: Clinical outcomes of compensated and decompensated cirrhosis: A long term study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study these characteristics and prognostic patterns in a Greek patient population.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed a large cohort of cirrhotic patients referred to the department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and the outpatient clinics of this tertiary hospital, between 1991 and 2008. We included patients with established cirrhosis, either compensated or decompensated, and further decompensation episodes were registered. A data base was maintained and updated prospectively throughout the study period. We analyzed differences in cirrhosis aetiology, time to and mode of decompensation, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) occurrence and ultimately patient survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five hundreds and twenty-two patients with median age 67 (range, 29-91) years and average follow up 9 years-10 mo (range, 1-206 mo) were studied. Commonest aetiology was hepatitis C virus (HCV, 41%) followed by alcohol (31%). The median survival time in compensated cirrhotics was 115 mo (95%CI: 95-133), whereas in decompensated patients was 55 mo (95%CI: 36-75). HCV patients survived longer while HBV patients had over twice the risk of death of HCV patients. The median time to decompensation was 65 mo (95%CI: 51-79), with alcoholics having the highest risk (RR = 2.1 vs HCV patients). Hepatitis B virus (HBV) patients had the highest risk of HCC, alcoholics the lowest. Leading causes of death: liver failure, hepatorenal syndrome, sepsis and HCC progression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cirrhosis aetiology and decompensation at presentation were predictors of survival. Alcoholics had the highest decompensation risk, HBV cirrhotics the highest risk of HCC and HCV cirrhotics the highest decompensation-free time.
authors: Dimitrios N Samonakis, Mairi Koulentaki, Constantina Coucoutsi, Aikaterini Augoustaki, Chryssavgi Baritaki, Emmanuel Digenakis, Nikolaos Papiamonis, Maria Fragaki, Erminia Matrella, Elias A Kouroumalis, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion 71110, Crete, Greece.
authors: Dimitrios N
authors: DN
authors: Samonakis
authors: Dimitrios N Samonakis, Mairi Koulentaki, Constantina Coucoutsi, Aikaterini Augoustaki, Chryssavgi Baritaki, Emmanuel Digenakis, Nikolaos Papiamonis, Maria Fragaki, Erminia Matrella, Elias A Kouroumalis, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion 71110, Crete, Greece.
authors: Mairi
authors: M
authors: Koulentaki
authors: Dimitrios N Samonakis, Mairi Koulentaki, Constantina Coucoutsi, Aikaterini Augoustaki, Chryssavgi Baritaki, Emmanuel Digenakis, Nikolaos Papiamonis, Maria Fragaki, Erminia Matrella, Elias A Kouroumalis, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion 71110, Crete, Greece.
authors: Constantina
authors: C
authors: Coucoutsi
authors: Dimitrios N Samonakis, Mairi Koulentaki, Constantina Coucoutsi, Aikaterini Augoustaki, Chryssavgi Baritaki, Emmanuel Digenakis, Nikolaos Papiamonis, Maria Fragaki, Erminia Matrella, Elias A Kouroumalis, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion 71110, Crete, Greece.
authors: Aikaterini
authors: A
authors: Augoustaki
authors: Dimitrios N Samonakis, Mairi Koulentaki, Constantina Coucoutsi, Aikaterini Augoustaki, Chryssavgi Baritaki, Emmanuel Digenakis, Nikolaos Papiamonis, Maria Fragaki, Erminia Matrella, Elias A Kouroumalis, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion 71110, Crete, Greece.
authors: Chryssavgi
authors: C
authors: Baritaki
authors: Dimitrios N Samonakis, Mairi Koulentaki, Constantina Coucoutsi, Aikaterini Augoustaki, Chryssavgi Baritaki, Emmanuel Digenakis, Nikolaos Papiamonis, Maria Fragaki, Erminia Matrella, Elias A Kouroumalis, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion 71110, Crete, Greece.
authors: Emmanuel
authors: E
authors: Digenakis
authors: Dimitrios N Samonakis, Mairi Koulentaki, Constantina Coucoutsi, Aikaterini Augoustaki, Chryssavgi Baritaki, Emmanuel Digenakis, Nikolaos Papiamonis, Maria Fragaki, Erminia Matrella, Elias A Kouroumalis, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion 71110, Crete, Greece.
authors: Nikolaos
authors: N
authors: Papiamonis
authors: Dimitrios N Samonakis, Mairi Koulentaki, Constantina Coucoutsi, Aikaterini Augoustaki, Chryssavgi Baritaki, Emmanuel Digenakis, Nikolaos Papiamonis, Maria Fragaki, Erminia Matrella, Elias A Kouroumalis, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion 71110, Crete, Greece.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Fragaki
authors: Dimitrios N Samonakis, Mairi Koulentaki, Constantina Coucoutsi, Aikaterini Augoustaki, Chryssavgi Baritaki, Emmanuel Digenakis, Nikolaos Papiamonis, Maria Fragaki, Erminia Matrella, Elias A Kouroumalis, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion 71110, Crete, Greece.
authors: Erminia
authors: E
authors: Matrella
authors: Dimitrios N Samonakis, Mairi Koulentaki, Constantina Coucoutsi, Aikaterini Augoustaki, Chryssavgi Baritaki, Emmanuel Digenakis, Nikolaos Papiamonis, Maria Fragaki, Erminia Matrella, Elias A Kouroumalis, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion 71110, Crete, Greece.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Tzardi
authors: Dimitrios N Samonakis, Mairi Koulentaki, Constantina Coucoutsi, Aikaterini Augoustaki, Chryssavgi Baritaki, Emmanuel Digenakis, Nikolaos Papiamonis, Maria Fragaki, Erminia Matrella, Elias A Kouroumalis, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion 71110, Crete, Greece.
authors: Elias A
authors: EA
authors: Kouroumalis
keywords: Ascites; Bleeding; Decompensation; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Survival