Baseline patient characteristics in the eras before and after implementation of the MELD-based allocation system
| Characteristics | Overall (n=81) | Before MELD (n=40) | After MELD (n=41) | P-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (yr) | 49 (43–55) | 51 (45–55) | 47 (42–55) | 0.07 |
| Male sex | 53 (65) | 28 (70) | 25 (60) | 0.48 |
| Previous decompensation | 38 (46) | 21 (52) | 17 (41) | 0.37 |
| Infection | 20 (24) | 6 (15) | 14 (34) | 0.07 |
| GI bleeding | 17 (21) | 8 (20) | 9 (22) | 1.00 |
| Varix | 64 (79) | 32 (80) | 32 (78) | 1.00 |
| Hepatomegaly | 37 (45) | 17 (42) | 20 (48) | 0.65 |
| Splenomegaly | 66 (81) | 33 (82) | 33 (80) | 1.00 |
| Ascites | 57 (70) | 30 (75) | 27 (65) | 0.46 |
| MELD score | 0.82 | |||
| <25 | 33 (41) | 17 (42) | 16 (39) | |
| ≥25 | 48 (59) | 23 (57) | 25 (61) | |
| Liver biopsy | 19 (23) | 9 (22) | 10 (24) | 1.00 |
| Corticosteroid use | 22 (27) | 11 (27) | 11 (26) | 1.00 |
| Corticosteroid response | 10/22 (45) | 4/11 (36) | 6/11 (54) | 0.68 |
| LT | 37 (45) | 10 (25) | 27 (65) | <0.001 |
| LDLT | 9 (11) | 3 (7) | 6 (14) | 0.30 |
| DDLT | 28 (34) | 7 (17) | 21 (51) | 0.001 |
Values are presented as median (interquartile range) or number (%).
MELD, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease; GI, gastrointestinal; LT, liver transplant; LDLT, live donor liver transplant; DDLT, deceased donor liver transplant.