Differences in complications between hepatitis B-related cirrhosis and alcohol-related cirrhosis

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the differences in complications between hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related and alcohol-related cirrhoses. METHODS: Medical records of patients with HBV-related and alcohol-related cirrhoses treated from January 2014 to January 2021 were, retrospectively, reviewed. The unadjusted rate and adjusted risk of cirrhotic complications between the two groups were assessed. RESULTS: The rates of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and hypersplenism were higher in HBV-related cirrhosis (both P < 0.05), whereas the rates of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) and acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) were higher in alcohol-related cirrhosis (both P < 0.05). After adjusting for potential confounders, HBV-related cirrhotic patients had higher risks of HCC (odds ratio [OR] = 34.06, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.61–251.77, P = 0.001) and hypersplenism (OR = 2.29, 95% CI: 1.18–4.42, P = 0.014), whereas alcohol-related cirrhotic patients had higher risks of HE (OR = 0.22, 95% CI: 0.06–0.73, P = 0.013) and ACLF (OR = 0.30, 95% CI: 0.14–0.73, P = 0.020). CONCLUSION: Cirrhotic patients with different etiologies had different types of complications: HBV-related cirrhotic patients exhibited increased risks of HCC and hypersplenism and alcohol-related cirrhotic patients more readily developing HE and ACLF.