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Background and Aims: Liver cirrhosis is a substantial health burden in the USA, but population-based data regarding the trend and medical expenditure are limited and outdated. We investigated the trends of inpatient admissions, costs, and inpatient mortality from 2005 to 2015 among cirrhotic patients.Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using the National Inpatient Sample database. We adjusted the costs to 2015 US dollars using a 3% inflation rate. National estimates of admissions were determined using discharge weights.Results: We identified 1,627,348 admissions in cirrhotic patients between 2005 and 2015. From 2005 to 2015, the number of weighted admissions in cirrhotic patients almost doubled (from 505,032 to 961,650) and the total annual hospitalization cost in this population increased three times (from 5.8 to 16.3 billion US dollars). Notably, admission rates varied by liver disease etiology, decreasing from 2005 to 2015 among patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related cirrhosis while increasing (almost tripled) among patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)-related cirrhosis. The annual inpatient mortality rate per 1000 admissions overall decreased from 63.8 to 58.2 between 2005 and 2015 except for NAFLD (27.2 to 35.8) (P < 0.001).Conclusions: Rates and costs of admissions in cirrhotic patients have increased substantially between 2005 and 2015 in the USA, but varied by liver disease etiology, with decreasing rate for HCV-associated cirrhosis and for HBV-associated cirrhosis but increasing for NAFLD-associated cirrhosis. Inpatient mortality also increased by one-third for NAFLD, while it decreased for other diseases. Cost also varied by etiology and lower for HCV-associated cirrhosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a progressive autoimmune liver disease that can result in cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease.Aims: We aim to evaluate hospitalization burden and in-hospital mortality among PBC patients in the USA.Methods: Using data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 2007 to 2014, hospitalizations among US adults with PBC were stratified by sex, age, and race/ethnicity. Overall in-hospital mortality was stratified by these variables and adjusted multivariate regression models evaluated for predictors of in-hospital mortality.Results: From 2007 to 2014, there were 18,279 hospitalizations among adults with PBC (15.0% male, mean age 63.8 years, 41.3% cirrhosis). Among non-Hispanic whites, the proportion of total PBC hospitalizations increased from 57.8% in 2007 to 71.2% in 2014, compared to 4.1-6.3% for African-Americans, 8.6-10.9% for Hispanics, and 1.7-2.8% for Asians (p < 0.001 for all). While overall in-hospital mortality was low (4.2%), increasing age was associated with higher odds of in-hospital mortality (OR: 1.02, 95% CI 1.01-1.03, p < 0.001). Compared to non-Hispanic white PBC patients, higher in-hospital mortality was observed in African-American PBC patients (OR: 1.40, 95% CI 1.16-2.03, p < 0.05). Compared to patients with private/commercial insurance, significantly higher odds of in-hospital mortality were observed in patients with Medicaid insurance (OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.00-1.99, p < 0.05).Conclusion: In summary, among adults with PBC hospitalized in the USA from 2007 to 2014, the overall number of hospitalizations is increasing. Significant disparities in in-hospital mortality were observed; African-Americans with PBC and Medicaid patients with PBC have disproportionately higher odds of in-hospital mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As the era of interferon-alpha (IFN)-based therapy for hepatitis C ends, long-term treatment outcomes are now being evaluated.Aim: To more fully understand the natural history of hepatitis C infection by following a multisite cohort of patients.Methods: Patients with chronic HCV were prospectively enrolled in 1999-2000 from 11 VA medical centers and followed through retrospective medical record review.Results: A total of 2211 patients were followed for an average of 8.5 years after enrollment. Thirty-one percent of patients received HCV antiviral therapy, 15 % with standard IFN/ribavirin only, 16 % with pegylated IFN/ribavirin, and 26.7 % of treated patients achieved sustained virologic response (SVR). Cirrhosis developed in 25.8 % of patients. Treatment nonresponders had a greater than twofold increase in the hazard of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, compared to untreated patients, whereas SVR patients were only marginally protected from cirrhosis. Nearly 6 % developed hepatocellular carcinoma, and 27.1 % died during the follow-up period. Treated patients, regardless of response, had a significant survival benefit compared to untreated patients (HR 0.58, CI 0.46-0.72). Improved survival was also associated with college education, younger age, lower levels of alcohol consumption, and longer duration of medical service follow-up-factors typically associated with treatment eligibility.Conclusions: As more hepatitis C patients are now being assessed for all-oral combination therapy, these results highlight that patient compliance and limiting harmful behaviors contribute a significant proportion of the survival benefit in treated patients and that the long-term clinical benefits of SVR may be less profound than previously reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rising rates of obesity, diabetes mellitus (DM), and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease among patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) may contribute to more rapid disease progression. Aim: To evaluate the impact of concurrent obesity, DM, and steatosis on disease progression among HCV patients. Methods: A systematic review using structured keyword search of MEDLINE and EMBASE from January 1, 2001, to July 1, 2014, was performed to identify original articles evaluating the association of obesity, DM, and steatosis with advanced fibrosis (AF) among adults with chronic HCV. Studies involving HCV patients coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, hepatocellular carcinoma, or other chronic liver diseases were excluded. Quality assessment utilized Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Results: Twenty cohort studies met inclusion criteria for analyses. Obesity was associated with increased risk of AF in seven studies with effect size ranging from OR 1.08 to 7.69. However, four studies did not demonstrate a significant association between obesity and AF. The presence of advanced steatosis among HCV patients was associated with increased risk of AF in 12 studies (OR 1.80-14.3). Concurrent DM was associated with increased risk of AF in six studies (OR 2.25-9.24). Thirteen studies were good quality, and seven studies were fair quality. Conclusion: Concurrent DM and steatosis are associated with increased risk of AF among chronic HCV patients. The majority of studies demonstrated significant associations of obesity with AF. Targeted interventions to optimize management of obesity-related diseases among HCV patients may help mitigate HCV disease progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]