Abstract

Background: The iMELD (integrated-MELD) score is constructed based on the combination of the MELD score, serum sodium value, and age to enhance the prognostic ability in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. This study aims to apply the iMELD score in early prognosis of hospitalized patients with decompensated cirrhosis due to viral hepatitis. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted to monitor clinical outcomes in 48 hospitalized patients with decompensated cirrhosis due to viral hepatitis within the hospital stay and the first 6 weeks. Results: The mean value of iMELD was 40.70 ± 7.435. For the prediction of mortality within the first 6 weeks, the iMELD score had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.801, a sensitivity of 71.4%, and a specificity of 82.9% with a cutoff point of 45.18 better than MELD and MELD-Na scores (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Based on these results, the iMELD score has a valuable prognostic value for early mortality prediction within the first 6 weeks and can be routinely used in clinical practice.