Predictors, burden and impact of cardiac arrhythmias among patients hospitalized with end-stage liver disease.

Background: Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy, hyperammonemia, and hepatorenal syndrome predispose to cardiac arrhythmias in End-stage liver disease (ESLD).

Objectives: Among ESLD hospitalizations, we evaluate the distribution and predictors of arrhythmias and their impact on hospitalization outcomes.

Methods: We selected ESLD records from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2007-2014), identified concomitant arrhythmias (tachyarrhythmias and bradyarrhythmias), and their demographic and comorbid characteristics, and estimated the effect of arrhythmia on outcomes (SAS 9.4).

Results: Of 57,119 ESLD hospitalizations, 6,615 had arrhythmias with higher odds with increasing age, males, jaundice, hepatorenal syndrome, alcohol use, and cardiopulmonary disorders. The most common arrhythmias were atrial fibrillation, cardiac arrest/asystole, and ventricular tachycardia. After propensity-matching (arrhythmia: no-arrhythmia, 6,609:6,609), arrhythmias were associated with 200% higher mortality, 1.7-days longer stay, $32,880 higher cost, and higher rates of shock, respiratory and kidney failures.

Conclusions: Due to worse outcomes with arrhythmias, there is a need for better screening and follow-up of ESLD patients for dysrhythmias.