Measuring the Impact of Dietetic Input in Compensated Liver Disease
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A quantitative and qualitative investigation into the impact of dietetic intervention in individuals with compensated liver disease
IRAS ID
257905
Contact name
Clare McKenzie
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Mortality rates associated with liver disease have risen significantly, in Scotland these are highest within Lanarkshire. The role of nutrition in liver disease is significant, the onset of sarcopenia results in increased morbidity/ mortality and reduced quality of life. In advanced liver disease, where an individual becomes symptomatic, it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain their nutritional status. Failure to detect the early signs of protein-energy malnutrition results in demonstrably poorer clinical outcomes while early detection and expedient intervention can produce great benefit in slowing disease progression, reducing the associated costs of treatment.
We aim to assess the impact of early dietetic input in patients in the early, non-symptomatic stages of liver disease by providing tailored nutrition counselling and measuring disease specific outcomes such as preservation of muscle tissue (anthropometry), biochemistry and quality of life. Patients attending the gastroenterology/ liver nurse led clinics at University Hospital Wishaw and University Hospital Monklands would be recruited and randomised to an intervention or control group. Both groups would provide biochemical and anthropometric data and complete a quality of life questionnaire. The intervention group would be provided with person centred dietetic counselling while the control group would continue with the existing nurse-led service. Following the collection of baseline data, patients would provide data markers at three months (half way) and six months (completion). This is a single centre, multi site research project.REC name
West of Scotland REC 3
REC reference
19/WS/0009
Date of REC Opinion
1 Feb 2019
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion