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Abstract
Introduction: Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy is a subclinical cardiac dysfunction observed in patients with liver cirrhosis, characterized by impaired systolic or diastolic function in the absence of known cardiac disease. It contributes to poor outcomes, especially in advanced liver disease or during stress events like liver transplantation. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy in patients with cirrhosis presenting at a tertiary care hospital.
Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Medicine, Combined Military Hospital Kharian, over six months from September 2024 to March 2025. A total of 373 patients aged 18–75 years with ultrasound-proven cirrhosis and no prior cardiac illness were included after informed consent. All participants underwent 2D echocardiography to assess for systolic or diastolic dysfunction. Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy was diagnosed based on predefined echocardiographic criteria. Patients were stratified by age, gender, and Child-Pugh class. Data were analyzed using SPSS v20. Chi-square test was applied to assess associations, with a p-value ≤0.05 considered significant.
Results: Out of 373 patients, 195 (52.3%) were male and 178 (47.7%) were female. The mean age was 46.19 ± 16.73 years. Most patients fell into Child-Pugh Class B (50.2%), followed by Class A (32.4%) and Class C (17.4%). Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy was identified in 154 patients (41.3%).
Conclusion: Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy was present in over 40% of patients with liver cirrhosis. Although common, its presence did not show a statistically significant correlation with the severity of liver disease or demographic variables. Routine cardiac evaluation may be warranted in cirrhotic patients to detect subclinical dysfunction.