Serum Lipid Profile as a Noninvasive Marker of Disease Severity in Liver Cirrhosis: A Hospital-based Observational Study

A bstract Background: Cirrhosis is a progressive liver disease characterized by fibrosis and architectural distortion, often associated with altered lipid metabolism. These changes in lipid profiles may correlate with disease severity and serve as prognostic indicators. Objective: To evaluate lipid profile abnormalities in cirrhosis and assess their correlation with disease severity using Child–Pugh and model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores. Settings and Design: Hospital-based observational study conducted in a tertiary care hospital over a period of 1 year. Materials and Methods : A total of 150 patients with clinically, biochemically, and radiologically confirmed cirrhosis were enrolled. Serum lipid parameters—total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and very-LDL—were measured using spectrophotometry. Disease severity was assessed using the Child–Pugh classification and MELD scoring. Statistical Analysis: Analysis of variance and Pearson’s correlation were applied, with significance set at P < 0.05. Results: Lipid levels progressively declined with advancing cirrhosis. Patients with Child–Pugh class C and higher MELD scores showed significantly lower lipid parameters compared to those with milder disease ( P < 0.001). Alcohol was the predominant etiology (70%), followed by nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (12%) and other causes. No significant gender differences were observed, while age-wise cholesterol and triglycerides peaked in the 51- to 60-year group, while HDL showed a declining trend with age. Overall survival was 89.3%, with a mortality of 10.7%. Conclusion: Lipid profile abnormalities show a strong correlation with cirrhosis severity. Routine lipid profile assessment may serve as a simple, cost-effective prognostic marker for risk stratification and management of cirrhotic patients.