Clinical characteristics and prognosis of hospitalized patients with moderate alcohol‐associated hepatitis

Abstract Background and Aims Little is known about the clinical characteristics and prognosis of hospitalized patients with moderate alcohol‐associated hepatitis (mAH) as compared to severe alcohol‐associated hepatitis (sAH). Therefore, we aimed to describe the clinical characteristics and risk factors associated with mortality in hospitalized mAH patients. Methods Patients hospitalized with alcohol‐associated hepatitis (AH) from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2020 at a large US healthcare system [11 hospitals, one liver transplant centre] were retrospectively analysed for outcomes. Primary outcome was 90‐day mortality. AH and mAH were defined according to NIAAA Alcoholic Hepatitis Consortia and Model for End‐stage Liver Disease Score ≤ 20 respectively. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors associated with 90‐day mortality. Results 1504 AH patients were hospitalized during the study period, of whom 39% ( n = 590) had mAH. Compared to sAH patients, mAH patients were older (50 vs. 48 years, p < 0.001) and less likely to have underlying cirrhosis (74% vs. 83%, p < 0.001). There were no differences between the two groups for median alcohol intake g/day (mAH 140.0 vs. sAH 112.0, p = 0.071). The cumulative proportion surviving at 90 days was 88% in mAH versus 62% in sAH ( p < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, older age [HR 1.03 (95% CI 1.00–1.06), p = 0.020], corticosteroid use [HR 1.80 (95% CI 1.06–3.06), p = 0.030] and acute kidney injury (AKI) [HR 2.43 (95% CI 1.33–4.47), p = 0.004] were independently associated with 90‐day mortality. Conclusions mAH carries a 12% mortality rate at 90 days. Age, AKI and corticosteroid use were associated with an increased risk for 90‐day mortality. Avoidance of corticosteroids and strategies to reduce the risk of AKI could improve outcomes in mAH patients.