Table 1.

Characteristics of patients at the first tertiary centre appointment (n=81), stratified by index presentation of chronic liver disease

	Decompensated on initial presentation to healthcare, total n=52	Compensated on initial presentation to healthcare, total n=29	p value
Age, years, median (IQR)	59.0 (55.0–62.0)	57.2 (53.0–63.0)	0.752^a
Encephalopathy, n (%)	12 (23.1)	10 (34.5)	0.269^b
Ascites, n (%)	33 (63.5)	14 (48.3)	0.184^b
Varices, n (%)	19 (36.5)	11 (37.9)	0.901^b
Hepatocellular carcinoma, n (%)	14 (26.9)	2 (6.9)	0.041^c
Ischemic heart disease, n (%)	3 (5.8)	1 (3.4)	>0.999^c
Vascular disease, n (%)	3 (5.8)	1 (3.4)	>0.999^c
Diabetes, n (%)	40 (76.9)	27 (93.1)	0.075^c
Hypertension, n (%)	20 (38.5)	15 (51.7)	0.248^b
Hypercholesterolaemia, n (%)	4 (7.7)	5 (17.2)	0.270^c
Platelets, × 10⁹/L, median (IQR)	115.0 (82.0–186.0)	120.0 (65.0–149.0)	0.198^a
International normalised ratio, median (IQR)	1.3 (1.1–1.4)	1.4 (1.2–1.5)	0.280^a
Sodium, mmol/L, median (IQR)	139.0 (136.0–141.5)	139.5 (137.0–143.5)	0.514^a
Creatinine, μmol/L, median (IQR)	84.0 (67.0–118.5)	83.5 (68.5–110.5)	0.766^a
Bilirubin, μmol/L, median (IQR)	24.0 (11.0–44.0)	30.0 (11.5–48.0)	0.528^a
Alanine aminotransferase, U/L, median (IQR)	35.0 (25.5–44.0)	28.5 (20.0–44.0)	0.106^a
Aspartate aminotransferase, U/L, median (IQR)	46.0 (31.0–59.5)	46.0 (35.5–58.0)	0.562^a
Fibrosis-4 score, mean±SD	4.37±3.17	5.60±3.03	0.099^d
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score, mean±SD	1.637±1.657	2.371±1.370	0.057^d
UK Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score, mean±SD	52.4±5.6	53.4±6.1	0.443^d
Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score, median (IQR)	13.0 (10.0–17.0)	16.0 (11.5–18.0)	0.111^a

↵^a = continuous data analysed using Mann–Whitney U test;
↵^b = categorical data analysed using Pearson's χ²;
↵^c = categorical data analysed using Fisher's exact test;·
↵^d = continuous data analysed using an independent t-test; IQR = interquartile range; SD = standard deviation.