Observational, prospective, single-center study: Should body mass index be added to the scoring criteria of hepatic critically ill patients in the intensive care unit

Introduction

Body mass index (BMI) is a measurement of total body fat content that is interpreted using standard weight status categories. These classifications are the same for men and women of all body types and ages. It states that a person with a BMI of <18.5 Kg/m ² is underweight, a BMI of 18.5–24.9 Kg/m ² as average or healthy weight, while BMI between 25 and 29.9 Kg/m ² as overweight and obese as BMI ≥30 Kg/m ² .

^, Obesity is associated with many diseases such as diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular, pulmonary diseases and frequent hospitalization. There is a discrepancy between studies regarding the impact of BMI on ICU mortality. There was increased mortality in underweight patients, which could be attributed to thinness and inadequate nutritional reserve, compensating for stress associated with a critical illness. In contrast, another study demonstrated that BMI had no significant effect on ICU mortality. Obesity has recently become more prevalent, and thus the coexistence of liver cirrhosis with obesity has become very frequent. There is increasing evidence of the deleterious effect of obesity on preexisting chronic liver disease caused by hepatitis C, hepatitis B, or alcohol-related liver disease. A meta-analysis that evaluated the impact of obesity on intensive care morbidity and mortality demonstrated that obesity was not associated with an increased risk of intensive care unit mortality. However, the duration of mechanical ventilation and intensive care unit stay was significantly longer in the obese group. Recent studies have discovered a phenomenon known as “the obesity paradox,” in which obesity has a protective effect against mortality. The purpose of the study is to investigate the correlation between abnormal BMI (overweight and obese) and clinical outcomes in critically ill cirrhotic patients.