In patients hospitalized with cirrhosis in the US, women had lower rates of hepatic decompensating events and higher rates of nonhepatic comorbidities and infections than men, resulting in lower in-hospital mortality. Researchers analyzed data from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS), years 2009‒2013, to identify patients with any diagnosis of cirrhosis. The primary outcome was inpatient mortality. Among the details:

• The cohort included 553,017 patients with cirrhosis (39% women; median age 57; 66% non-Hispanic white) admitted from 2009‒2013.
• Women were more likely than men to have noncirrhosis comorbidities, including diabetes and hypertension, but less likely to have most cirrhosis complications, including ascites and variceal bleeding.
• Women were more likely to have acute bacterial infections but were less likely than men to die in the hospital.