Barriers to Lactulose Adherence in Patients with Cirrhosis and Hepatic Encephalopathy.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in patients with cirrhosis. Lactulose non-adherence is one of the most frequently reported precipitants of hospital admission for HE. AIMS: We aimed to identify which factors contribute most to lactulose non-adherence and propose strategies to promote greater adherence and utilization of lactulose. METHODS: Participants in this study consisted of patients with cirrhosis who were taking lactulose for prevention of HE. Subjects were administered the Morisky Adherence Scale 8 (MAS-8) and a customized 16-question survey that assessed barriers to lactulose adherence. Results from the MAS-8 were used to stratify subjects into "adherent" and "non-adherent" groups. Survey responses were compared between groups. RESULTS: We enrolled 129 patients in our study, of whom 45 were categorized as "adherent and 72 were categorized as "non-adherent." Barriers to adherence included large volumes of lactulose, high frequency of dosing, difficulty remembering to take the medication, unpleasant taste, and medication side-effects. Most patients (97%) expressed understanding of the importance of lactulose, and 71% of patients felt that lactulose was working to manage their HE. Hospital admission rates for HE was higher in non-adherent patients, although this difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: We identified several factors that contribute to lactulose non-adherence among patients treated for HE. Many of these factors are potentially modifiable. Patient and care-giver education are critical to assure adherence. Pharmacists and nurses are an essential but underutilized aspect of education regarding proper medication use.

Barriers for Liver Transplant in Patients with Alcohol-Related Hepatitis.

BACKGROUND: Liver transplantation (LT) for alcohol-related liver disease has historically been reserved for patients who have been six months abstinent. Given the increasing incidence of alcohol-related hepatitis (AH) and dismal survival in patients who fail medical therapy, transplant centers are extending their acceptance criteria for patients with less than 6 months of sobriety. We sought to determine the barriers for listing. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of all inpatient LT referrals for a diagnosis of AH between September 2019 and December 2020. LT evaluations were performed by a multidisciplinary team. Descriptive statistics were reported using mean and standard deviation (SD) or percentage where appropriate. RESULTS: During our study period, 82 patients were evaluated for LT. Of these 82 patients, 62 were declined for liver transplantation. The mean (SD) age of the 62-patient cohort was 44 years (10.7), and most patients were men. The mean (SD) number of reasons for denial was 2 (0.97). Four patients had medical contraindications for transplant. Twenty-seven (44%) and 35 (56%) patients lacked insight and were at risk of alcohol relapse, respectively. Forty-three (69%) and fourteen (22.5%) patients had insufficient social support and an inability to maintain a therapeutic relationship with the transplant team, respectively. CONCLUSION: Patients are more likely denied for psychosocial factors than medical comorbidities. The majority were due to lack of insight, insufficient social support, and inability to maintain a therapeutic relationship with the transplant team. Resources should be allocated to address these issues.

Frailty Does Not Impact Caregiver Burden in Patients with Cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: Frailty is common and is associated with increased mortality, lower quality of life, and higher readmission rates in cirrhotic patients. Not only are these outcomes important, but further understanding the impact of frailty on a caregiver's life is crucial to better comprehend caregiver burden in cirrhotic patients and develop strategies to improve care for patients and their caregivers. METHODS: A single-center, prospective study was conducted of cirrhotic patients and their caregivers between 4/1/2019 and 11/1/2019. Frailty testing combined aspects from the Fried Frailty Instrument, Short Physical Performance Battery, and activities of daily living. Caregivers completed questionnaires to evaluate caregiver burden using the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI-12), and perceived social support, using the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List. RESULTS: In total, 94 cirrhotic patients were included, 50% males with a median age of 63.1 years. The most common etiology of cirrhosis was nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Frailty was prevalent (45.1%). In total, 12.8% of caregivers reported a high burden based on ZBI-12. There was no association between frailty and caregiver burden, hospitalization rates, or death. However, frailty was associated with a higher number of outpatient GI visits (p = 0.002). Lower perceived social support among caregivers was associated with a higher caregiver burden (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Frailty is prevalent in cirrhotic patients but is not associated with higher rates of caregiver burden. Low perceived social support among caregivers, however, was associated with higher caregiver burden. It is important to recognize the impact of caregiver burden on caregivers of cirrhotic patients and ensure caregivers have the appropriate support to mitigate burden.