Figure 131-3

Health-related quality of life assessed as mean SF-36 domain score and summary scores in patients with liver cirrhosis without hepatic encephalopathy (dashed line, n = 23), with minimal hepatic encephalopathy (dotted line, n = 36), and with overt hepatic encephalopathy (continuous line, n = 89). Lower scores indicate poorer health-related quality of life. Patients with hepatic encephalopathy (overt and minimal) showed poorer health-related quality of life assessed by the 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36) compared to cirrhotic patients without hepatic encephalopathy. * Statistical significance by analysis of variance. The Child-Pugh score did not differ significantly among groups (p > 0.05). SF-36, the 36-item short form health survey; PF, physical functioning; RP, role limitations caused by physical health problems; BP, bodily pain; GH, general health perceptions; VT, vitality; SF, social functioning; RE, role limitations caused by emotional problems; MH, mental health; PCS, physical component summary; MCS, mental component summary. The PCS and MCS constitute summaries of the physical and mental SF-36 indices. Data from Arguedas et al. (2003)