Sex is a major effect modifier between body composition and mortality in patients with cirrhosis assessed for liver transplantation

Body composition predicts mortality in patients with cirrhosis. The impact of sex on this association is unknown. We investigated the impact of sex on this association in patients with cirrhosis assessed for liver transplantation.This single-centre retrospective cohort study included adults assessed for liver transplantation. Nutritional status was assessed using the Royal Free Hospital-Global Assessment (RFH-GA). Body composition at the third lumbar vertebrae was determined. SarcopeniaThe cohort comprised 628 patients, including 199 females and 429 males. Both groups were similar in terms of baseline liver disease severity by Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) (p = .98) and nutritional status (p = .24). SarcopeniaThis study demonstrates that male patients were susceptible to low muscle mass, whereas female patients were not. Future research in this patient population should minimize sex-related bias and present data for both groups separately.