Prognostic Value of Child-Pugh, MELD, and ALBI Scores in Cirrhotic Patients

Background & Objective: Risk stratification in cirrhotic patients relies primarily on the Child-Pugh classification, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD), and Albumin-Bilirubin (ALBI) scores. These scoring systems serve to evaluate liver disease severity, risk of decompensation, and overall prognosis. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between these prognostic scores and the primary clinical manifestations of hepatic decompensation in cirrhotic patients. Patients and Methods: This single-center cross-sectional study included 50 patients diagnosed with liver cirrhosis. Demographic, etiological, laboratory, and clinical parameters were collected. Hepatic disease severity was stratified using the Child-Pugh classification, MELD score, and ALBI score. Associations between these scores and major cirrhotic complications including ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, gastrointestinal bleeding, ascitic fluid infection (spontaneous bacterial peritonitis), and jaundice were evaluated using Chi-square, Mann-Whitney U, and Spearman correlation tests. Results: Fifty patients were evaluated: 17 in Child-Pugh class A (34%), 18 in class B (36%), and 15 in class C (30%). Median MELD score was 15 (range: 7–28) and median ALBI score was 1.47 (range: 0.24–2.84). Complication rates were: ascites in 29 patients (58%), hepatic encephalopathy in 12 (24%), gastrointestinal hemorrhage in 11 (22%), ascitic fluid infection in 4 (8%), and jaundice in 3 (6%). MELD score increased significantly alongside Child-Pugh severity (p < 0.001). MELD score showed statistically significant associations with hepatic encephalopathy (rho = 0.351; p = 0.014), ascites (rho = 0.389; p = 0.006), and jaundice (rho = 0.311; p = 0.030). Child-Pugh class was likewise significantly associated with ascites (p < 0.001), hepatic encephalopathy (p < 0.001), and ascitic fluid infection (p = 0.006). In contrast, the ALBI score did not demonstrate the expected distribution relative to liver disease se