Respiratory and cardiovascular complications in patients with liver cirrhosis due to hepatitis C virus and its impact on quality of life

Objective: To assess the respiratory and cardiovascular complications in patients with liver cirrhosis due to hepatitis C virus and its impact on quality of life.Subjects and methods: The study was carried out on 100 patients with liver cirrhosis and 50 healthy control volunteer without liver cirrhosis where respiratory and cardiovascular complications were assessed by arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis (PaO2, PaCO2 and pH), pulmonary function tests (PFTs) [forced vital capacity (FVC%), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1%), FEV1/FVC ratio and forced expiratory flow in 25% to 75% of FVC (FEF 25–75%)] and echocardiography [pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP), left atrial (LA) area, diastolic dysfunction (DD), and pulse rate].Results: The pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) measured by echo was significantly higher (48.23 mmHg) in cirrhotic patients than that of the control non cirrhotic group (28.02 mmHg) (P < 0.001). By ABG analysis, PaO2 was significantly lower in cirrhotic patients (52.29 mmHg) than in the control group (79.34 mmHg) (P < 0.001) with a significant negative correlation between PASP and PaO2. On the other hand, the differences between both groups regarding PaCO2 and pH were insignificant (P > 0.05). There was a highly significant positive correlation between portal vein diameter and the level of PASP. High mortality rate 41% was reported among patients with high PASP. Regarding the PFTs, the differences between both groups regarding the FVC%, FEV%, FEV1/FVC and FEF 25–75% were insignificant (P > 0.05).Conclusion: Respiratory and cardiovascular complications (elevated PASP, hypoxemia, increased LA area DD and/or tachycardia) are common complications in hepatic patients and should be assessed for control of symptoms, quality of life and survival