Nutritional assessment and management for hospitalized patients with cirrhosis

Purpose of Review The purpose of this review is to summarize recent knowledge on malnutrition and sarcopenia in liver cirrhosis with special focus on hospitalized cirrhotic patients. Assessment tools and treatment options are briefly discussed. Recent Findings During hospitalization, cirrhotic patients frequently deteriorate their nutritional status due to multiple factors. Evaluation of nutritional risk followed by nutritional assessment has been suggested in cirrhotic patients and may alert the need of special nutritional care in those hospitalized. Few recent studies, although in small series, proposed to ameliorate sarcopenia in cirrhotic patients by protein/calorie supplementation and also encouraging physical activity. Summary Malnutrition and sarcopenia are negative predictors of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized cirrhotic patients. When malnutrition is diagnosed, care should be taken to provide adequate nutritional support. Physical movement, whenever possible, has been suggested for prevention of muscle loss.