Introduction: In cirrhosis patients awaiting liver transplantation (LT), protein-energy malnutrition is the most common complication (> 80%) and one of the main risk factors for the onset and progression of sarcopenia, defined as a loss of muscle mass, quality, and function. Previous clinical studies have shown that malnutrition and sarcopenia are associated with negative outcomes, such as increased infections and mortality, as well as decreased quality of life. Objectives: Assess longitudinal changes in nutritional risk, muscle function and quality of life in cirrhotic patients awaiting LT. Method: A randomized controlled pilot study is conducted including 30 cirrhotic patients on the waiting list for LT. Nutritional risk (Liver Disease Undernutrition Screening Tool), muscle function (chair stand test), and quality of life (SF-36) are assessed every 3 months before and until LT. Results: Currently, 25 patients awaiting LT are included. The mean age of the patients is 51.3 ± 12.9 years. The most common etiology is alcoholism (33 %). 84 % of patients were at risk of malnutrition and with follow-ups up to a year on the waitlist, the percentage has not changed. Muscle function is impaired in those patients (18.1 ± 11.0 s vs. 12.6 s in healthy patients) (p < 0,001) and it decreased with the follow-ups (p < 0,05). Regarding quality of life, the score of physical heath was 41.8% ± 18.6 and mental health was 52.1% ± 25. With the follow-ups, the quality of life tended to decrease. Conclusion: The majority of patients waiting for a LT are at risk of malnutrition, display altered muscle function, and a tendency of decreased quality of life.
