Symptom Classes in Decompensated Liver Disease

Background & aims: Patients with decompensated liver disease have been categorized by disease severity. This analysis sought to classify patients with end-stage liver disease based on symptoms rather than disease state and to identify distinct severity classes of physical and psychological symptoms. Methods: Patients with a model for end-stage liver disease-sodium score of 15 or higher were recruited from liver clinics in 2 health care organizations. They completed the Condensed Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale, Revised Ways of Coping Checklist, Patient Health Questionnaire, Life Orientation Test-Revised, and the Short-Form Health Survey. Cross-sectional data were analyzed using latent class mixture modeling. Results: The sample (N = 191; age, 56.6 ± 11.1 y; 33.5% ETOH; 28.3% nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; 13.1% autoimmune/primary biliary cholangitis/primary sclerosing cholangitis) was predominantly male (64.2%), Child–Turcotte–Pugh class C (49.5%), with an average model for end-stage liver disease-sodium score of 18.7 ± 4.9. Three distinct classes of symptoms were identified, as follows: mild (26.7%), moderate (41.4%), or severe (31.9%) symptoms. Symptom classes were independent of disease severity and demographic characteristics, except age. All Condensed Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale symptoms and Patient Health Questionnaire scores were significantly different across the 3 classes (P < .05). The symptom classes also differed significantly in physical and mental quality of life, optimism, and avoidance coping behaviors (all P < .001). Conclusions: Patient-reported symptom severity occurred independent of disease severity, contrary to common assumptions. Focusing on the moderate and severe symptom classes as well as patient history of end-stage liver disease complications may enhance providers' ability to improve symptom management for this population.