Table 2 Comparison of patient background characteristics between presence or absence of minimal hepatic encephalopathy

Age (years)

72

68

0.944

Male, n (%)

34 (66.7)

27 (56.3)

0.287

Etiology

0.677

 HBV, n (%)

11 (21.6)

7 (14.6)

 HCV (include SVR), n (%)

24 (47.0)

28 (58.3)

 NBNC, n (%)

16 (31.4)

13 (27.1)

Taking BCAA, n (%)

11 (21.6)

17 (35.4)

0.126

Taking diuretic, n (%)

12 (23.5)

13 (27.1)

0.684

Alcohol, n (%)

22 (43.1)

17 (35.4)

0.432

Diabetes, n (%)

17 (33.3)

16 (33.3)

1.000

HCC, n (%)

36 (70.6)

34 (75.0)

0.979

Esophageal or gastric varices, n (%)

19 (38.0)

21 (43.8)

0.563

Porto-systemic shunts, n (%)

22 (43.1)

13 (27.1)

0.095

Ascites, n (%)

4 (7.8)

6 (12.5)

0.332

Child–Pugh Class

0.879

 A

30 (66.7)

30 (68.4)

 B or C

15 (33.3)

14 (31.8)

Sarcopenia, n (%)

3 (5.9)

3 (6.3)

0.632

Body height (m)

1.61

1.56

0.023

Body weight (kg)

60.8

53.9

0.002

BMI (kg/m²)

24.52

22.66

0.021

Grip strength (kg)

28.3

21.9

0.041

Hemoglobin (g/L)

133

124

0.181

Platelet (× 10³/μL)

107

106.5

0.563

ALT (U/L)

26

23

0.385

γ-GTP (U/L)

43

39

0.975

Cholinesterase (U/L)

210

203

0.416

Albumin (g/L)

39

38

0.863

Total cholesterol (mmol/L)

4.16

4.16

0.991

Ammonia (μmol/L)

31.1

30.5

0.674

Prothrombin time (%)

79.0

81.5

0.483

Sodium (mEq/L)

140

139.5

0.946

BCAA (mmol/L)

465.9

404.0

0.093

Tyrosine (mmol/L)

99.5

91.1

0.076

BTR

4.62

4.78

0.978

Subcutaneous fat area (cm²)

119.99

97.35

0.198

Visceral fat area (cm²)

111.37

111.09

0.385

CT level of skeletal muscle (HU)

23.46

22.51

0.287

Skeletal muscle area (cm²)

125.85

108.23

0.003

Skeletal muscle index (cm²/m²)

51.22

46.40

0.027

Psoas muscle area (cm²)

14.34

10.85

0.002

Psoas muscle index (cm²/m²)

5.53

4.24

0.003