| Characteristics by liver stiffness (groups & continuous) and timepoint | ||||||||||
| LS groups: LS≤6 kPa, 6<LS≤10 kPa, LS≥10 kPa • LS continuous association shown after Overall | ||||||||||
| Variable | Overall | LS (continuous) association1 |
Group comparison by LS categories
|
p (LS) | Group test2 | Assumption tests | Assumption results | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LS≤6 kPa | 6 < LS ≤ 10 kPa | LS ≥ 10 kPa | p value | |||||||
| Baseline — Overall n=34 | group ns: 10/16/8 | ||||||||||
| Age (years) | 76 (71-81) | Spearman ρ=-0.05; p=0.776 | 78 (76-81) | 76 (70-78) | 76 (73-82) | 0.779 | 0.776 | Kruskal–Wallis | Shapiro–Wilk (residuals); Levene (median) | Shapiro p=<0.001; Levene p=0.913 |
| TriScore (nº) | 4.0 (± 1.8) | Spearman ρ=-0.11; p=0.524 | 4.2 (± 2.0) | 3.9 (± 1.9) | 3.9 (± 1.8) | 0.922 | 0.524 | ANOVA | Shapiro–Wilk (residuals); Levene (median) | Shapiro p=0.354; Levene p=0.841 |
| Female (nº, %) | 21 (62) | Wilcoxon Δ~median(1–0)=1.10 kPa; p=0.456 | 6 (60) | 10 (62) | 5 (62) | 1.000 | 0.456 | Fisher’s exact | Expected counts (χ² rule) | min expected=3.06 (<5) |
| Hypertension (nº, %) | 20 (59) | Wilcoxon Δ~median(1–0)=-2.25 kPa; p=0.381 | 7 (70) | 8 (50) | 5 (62) | 0.669 | 0.381 | Fisher’s exact | Expected counts (χ² rule) | min expected=3.29 (<5) |
| Hyperlipidaemia (nº, %) | 11 (32) | Wilcoxon Δ~median(1–0)=2.50 kPa; p=0.507 | 3 (30) | 4 (25) | 4 (50) | 0.568 | 0.507 | Fisher’s exact | Expected counts (χ² rule) | min expected=2.59 (<5) |
| Diabetes mellitus (nº, %) | 8 (24) | Wilcoxon Δ~median(1–0)=-0.35 kPa; p=0.887 | 3 (30) | 3 (19) | 2 (25) | 0.874 | 0.887 | Fisher’s exact | Expected counts (χ² rule) | min expected=1.88 (<5) |
| Atrial fibrilation (nº, %) | 31 (91) | Wilcoxon Δ~median(1–0)=-1.40 kPa; p=0.761 | 9 (90) | 14 (88) | 8 (100) | 0.786 | 0.761 | Fisher’s exact | Expected counts (χ² rule) | min expected=0.71 (<5) |
| Ischemic cardiomyopathy (nº, %) | 5 (15) | Wilcoxon Δ~median(1–0)=-1.00 kPa; p=0.422 | 2 (20) | 2 (12) | 1 (12) | 0.839 | 0.422 | Fisher’s exact | Expected counts (χ² rule) | min expected=1.18 (<5) |
| Aortic valve surgery (nº, %) | 7 (21) | Wilcoxon Δ~median(1–0)=3.00 kPa; p=0.701 | 2 (20) | 2 (12) | 3 (38) | 0.354 | 0.701 | Fisher’s exact | Expected counts (χ² rule) | min expected=1.65 (<5) |
| TAVR (nº, %) | 3 (9) | Wilcoxon Δ~median(1–0)=4.50 kPa; p=0.224 | 0 (0) | 1 (6) | 2 (25) | 0.211 | 0.224 | Fisher’s exact | Expected counts (χ² rule) | min expected=0.71 (<5) |
| Mitral valve surgery (nº, %) | 13 (38) | Wilcoxon Δ~median(1–0)=1.30 kPa; p=0.929 | 5 (50) | 5 (31) | 3 (38) | 0.602 | 0.929 | Fisher’s exact | Expected counts (χ² rule) | min expected=3.06 (<5) |
| Chronic Kidney Disease (nº, %) | 14 (41) | Wilcoxon Δ~median(1–0)=-0.70 kPa; p=0.766 | 4 (40) | 7 (44) | 3 (38) | 1.000 | 0.766 | Fisher’s exact | Expected counts (χ² rule) | min expected=3.29 (<5) |
| Number of diuretics | 1.5 (± 0.7) | Spearman ρ=-0.06; p=0.757 | 1.7 (± 0.7) | 1.4 (± 0.8) | 1.6 (± 0.7) | 0.528 | 0.757 | ANOVA | Shapiro–Wilk (residuals); Levene (median) | Shapiro p=0.061; Levene p=0.830 |
| NYHA ≥3 (nº, %) | 22 (65) | Wilcoxon Δ~median(1–0)=-1.85 kPa; p=0.626 | 7 (70) | 11 (69) | 4 (50) | 0.652 | 0.626 | Fisher’s exact | Expected counts (χ² rule) | min expected=2.82 (<5) |
| Edema (nº, %) | 18 (53) | Wilcoxon Δ~median(1–0)=-0.10 kPa; p=0.782 | 5 (50) | 8 (50) | 5 (62) | 0.823 | 0.782 | Fisher’s exact | Expected counts (χ² rule) | min expected=3.76 (<5) |
| Ascitis (nº, %) | 9 (26) | Wilcoxon Δ~median(1–0)=-0.30 kPa; p=0.532 | 3 (30) | 4 (25) | 2 (25) | 1.000 | 0.532 | Fisher’s exact | Expected counts (χ² rule) | min expected=2.12 (<5) |
| Diuretic resistance (nº, %) | 12 (36) | Wilcoxon Δ~median(1–0)=0.10 kPa; p=0.736 | 5 (50) | 4 (27) | 3 (38) | 0.474 | 0.736 | Fisher’s exact | Expected counts (χ² rule) | min expected=2.91 (<5) |
| MELD-XI | 10.8 (± 6.1) | Spearman ρ=-0.08; p=0.655 | 9.3 (± 5.1) | 12.7 (± 6.6) | 9.2 (± 5.8) | 0.259 | 0.655 | ANOVA | Shapiro–Wilk (residuals); Levene (median) | Shapiro p=0.189; Levene p=0.657 |
| FIB-4 score | 5.7 (± 3.1) | Spearman ρ=0.17; p=0.346 | 6.0 (± 4.2) | 5.3 (± 2.7) | 6.3 (± 2.6) | 0.647 | 0.346 | Kruskal–Wallis | Shapiro–Wilk (residuals); Levene (median) | Shapiro p=0.021; Levene p=0.670 |
| VEXUS ≥2 (nº, %) | 20 (59) | t-test Δ(1–0)=2.03 kPa [-4.07, 0.00]; p=0.050 | 3 (30) | 11 (69) | 6 (75) | 0.110 | 0.050 | Fisher’s exact | Expected counts (χ² rule) | min expected=3.29 (<5) |
| 1 month — Overall n=28 | group ns: 14/12/2 | ||||||||||
| Age (years) | 76 (71-81) | Spearman ρ=-0.40; p=0.034 | 78 (76-83) | 76 (69-80) | 61 (54-68) | 0.118 | 0.034 | Kruskal–Wallis | Shapiro–Wilk (residuals); Levene (median) | Shapiro p=0.677; Levene p=0.048 |
| TriScore (nº) | 4.0 (± 1.8) | Pearson r=-0.02 [-0.39, 0.35]; p=0.910 | 3.8 (± 2.1) | 4.1 (± 1.7) | 4.0 (± 0.0) | 0.922 | 0.910 | ANOVA | Shapiro–Wilk (residuals); Levene (median) | Shapiro p=0.167; Levene p=0.181 |
| Female (nº, %) | 21 (62) | t-test Δ(1–0)=0.85 kPa [-2.43, 0.73]; p=0.281 | 8 (57) | 6 (50) | 2 (100) | 0.610 | 0.281 | Fisher’s exact | Expected counts (χ² rule) | min expected=0.86 (<5) |
| Hypertension (nº, %) | 20 (59) | t-test Δ(1–0)=-0.34 kPa [-1.27, 1.95]; p=0.666 | 8 (57) | 7 (58) | 1 (50) | 1.000 | 0.666 | Fisher’s exact | Expected counts (χ² rule) | min expected=0.86 (<5) |
| Hyperlipidaemia (nº, %) | 11 (32) | t-test Δ(1–0)=0.49 kPa [-2.15, 1.17]; p=0.548 | 4 (29) | 5 (42) | 1 (50) | 0.849 | 0.548 | Fisher’s exact | Expected counts (χ² rule) | min expected=0.71 (<5) |
| Diabetes mellitus (nº, %) | 8 (24) | t-test Δ(1–0)=-0.36 kPa [-1.58, 2.31]; p=0.705 | 4 (29) | 1 (8) | 1 (50) | 0.259 | 0.705 | Fisher’s exact | Expected counts (χ² rule) | min expected=0.43 (<5) |
| Atrial fibrilation (nº, %) | 31 (91) | t-test Δ(1–0)=-1.15 kPa [-1.93, 4.22]; p=0.450 | 14 (100) | 10 (83) | 2 (100) | 0.315 | 0.450 | Fisher’s exact | Expected counts (χ² rule) | min expected=0.14 (<5) |
| Ischemic cardiomyopathy (nº, %) | 5 (15) | t-test Δ(1–0)=1.40 kPa [-3.93, 1.13]; p=0.266 | 0 (0) | 3 (25) | 0 (0) | 0.171 | 0.266 | Fisher’s exact | Expected counts (χ² rule) | min expected=0.21 (<5) |
| Aortic valve surgery (nº, %) | 7 (21) | t-test Δ(1–0)=0.13 kPa [-2.08, 1.82]; p=0.895 | 3 (21) | 2 (17) | 1 (50) | 0.612 | 0.895 | Fisher’s exact | Expected counts (χ² rule) | min expected=0.43 (<5) |
| TAVR (nº, %) | 3 (9) | t-test Δ(1–0)=-1.49 kPa [-1.56, 4.54]; p=0.324 | 2 (14) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0.556 | 0.324 | Fisher’s exact | Expected counts (χ² rule) | min expected=0.14 (<5) |
| Mitral valve surgery (nº, %) | 13 (38) | t-test Δ(1–0)=-0.32 kPa [-1.32, 1.95]; p=0.692 | 7 (50) | 3 (25) | 1 (50) | 0.352 | 0.692 | Fisher’s exact | Expected counts (χ² rule) | min expected=0.79 (<5) |
| Chronic Kidney Disease (nº, %) | 14 (41) | t-test Δ(1–0)=-0.16 kPa [-1.45, 1.76]; p=0.842 | 5 (36) | 8 (67) | 0 (0) | 0.172 | 0.842 | Fisher’s exact | Expected counts (χ² rule) | min expected=0.93 (<5) |
| Number of diuretics | 1.5 (± 0.7) | Spearman ρ=0.35; p=0.071 | 1.3 (± 0.7) | 1.6 (± 0.8) | 2.0 (± 0.0) | 0.355 | 0.071 | ANOVA | Shapiro–Wilk (residuals); Levene (median) | Shapiro p=0.130; Levene p=0.484 |
| NYHA ≥3 (nº, %) | 1 (3) | t-test Δ(1–0)=1.39 kPa [-5.69, 2.90]; p=0.510 | 0 (0) | 1 (8) | 0 (0) | 0.519 | 0.510 | Fisher’s exact | Expected counts (χ² rule) | min expected=0.07 (<5) |
| Edema (nº, %) | 4 (12) | Wilcoxon Δ~median(1–0)=2.00 kPa; p=0.037 | 0 (0) | 4 (33) | 0 (0) | 0.070 | 0.037 | Fisher’s exact | Expected counts (χ² rule) | min expected=0.30 (<5) |
| Ascitis (nº, %) | 0 (0) | NA | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | NA | NA | NA | Expected counts (χ² rule) | All outcomes in one level |
| Diuretic resistance (nº, %) | 12 (36) | t-test Δ(1–0)=0.51 kPa [-2.30, 1.28]; p=0.564 | 3 (21) | 4 (36) | 1 (50) | 0.554 | 0.564 | Fisher’s exact | Expected counts (χ² rule) | min expected=0.59 (<5) |
| MELD-XI | 10.8 (± 6.1) | Spearman ρ=0.14; p=0.463 | 9.1 (± 4.2) | 14.1 (± 6.5) | 8.2 (± 1.7) | 0.058 | 0.463 | ANOVA | Shapiro–Wilk (residuals); Levene (median) | Shapiro p=0.086; Levene p=0.344 |
| FIB-4 score | 5.5 (± 3.4) | Spearman ρ=0.14; p=0.504 | 4.5 (± 3.6) | 6.6 (± 3.6) | 6.7 (± 4.1) | 0.256 | 0.504 | Kruskal–Wallis | Shapiro–Wilk (residuals); Levene (median) | Shapiro p=0.022; Levene p=0.824 |
| VEXUS ≥2 (nº, %) | 10 (36) | t-test Δ(1–0)=0.35 kPa [-2.02, 1.31]; p=0.668 | 4 (29) | 6 (50) | 0 (0) | 0.393 | 0.668 | Fisher’s exact | Expected counts (χ² rule) | min expected=0.71 (<5) |
| 12 months — Overall n=17 | group ns: 9/7/1 | ||||||||||
| Age (years) | 76 (71-81) | Spearman ρ=0.25; p=0.339 | 76 (70-76) | 76 (72-77) | 77 (77-77) | 0.708 | 0.339 | Kruskal–Wallis | Shapiro–Wilk (residuals); Levene (median) | Shapiro p=0.003; Levene p=0.775 |
| TriScore (nº) | 4.0 (± 1.8) | Pearson r=0.46 [-0.03, 0.77]; p=0.065 | 3.1 (± 1.1) | 3.9 (± 2.3) | 7.0 (± NA) | 0.119 | 0.065 | ANOVA | Shapiro–Wilk (residuals); Levene (median) | Shapiro p=0.139; Levene p=0.259 |
| Female (nº, %) | 21 (62) | t-test Δ(1–0)=-0.44 kPa [-1.94, 2.81]; p=0.701 | 5 (56) | 5 (71) | 0 (0) | 0.471 | 0.701 | Fisher’s exact | Expected counts (χ² rule) | min expected=0.41 (<5) |
| Hypertension (nº, %) | 20 (59) | t-test Δ(1–0)=1.22 kPa [-3.50, 1.07]; p=0.275 | 5 (56) | 4 (57) | 1 (100) | 1.000 | 0.275 | Fisher’s exact | Expected counts (χ² rule) | min expected=0.41 (<5) |
| Hyperlipidaemia (nº, %) | 11 (32) | t-test Δ(1–0)=-0.10 kPa [-2.25, 2.45]; p=0.927 | 4 (44) | 4 (57) | 0 (0) | 1.000 | 0.927 | Fisher’s exact | Expected counts (χ² rule) | min expected=0.47 (<5) |
| Diabetes mellitus (nº, %) | 8 (24) | Wilcoxon Δ~median(1–0)=1.70 kPa; p=0.088 | 0 (0) | 3 (43) | 0 (0) | 0.082 | 0.088 | Fisher’s exact | Expected counts (χ² rule) | min expected=0.18 (<5) |
| Atrial fibrilation (nº, %) | 31 (91) | t-test Δ(1–0)=-0.82 kPa [-2.80, 4.43]; p=0.637 | 9 (100) | 5 (71) | 1 (100) | 0.272 | 0.637 | Fisher’s exact | Expected counts (χ² rule) | min expected=0.12 (<5) |
| Ischemic cardiomyopathy (nº, %) | 5 (15) | t-test Δ(1–0)=-1.61 kPa [-1.33, 4.56]; p=0.261 | 2 (22) | 1 (14) | 0 (0) | 1.000 | 0.261 | Fisher’s exact | Expected counts (χ² rule) | min expected=0.18 (<5) |
| Aortic valve surgery (nº, %) | 7 (21) | t-test Δ(1–0)=1.18 kPa [-4.19, 1.83]; p=0.417 | 1 (11) | 2 (29) | 0 (0) | 0.629 | 0.417 | Fisher’s exact | Expected counts (χ² rule) | min expected=0.18 (<5) |
| TAVR (nº, %) | 3 (9) | t-test Δ(1–0)=4.84 kPa [-7.32, -2.36]; p=<0.001 | 0 (0) | 1 (14) | 1 (100) | 0.051 | <0.001 | Fisher’s exact | Expected counts (χ² rule) | min expected=0.12 (<5) |
| Mitral valve surgery (nº, %) | 13 (38) | t-test Δ(1–0)=-0.58 kPa [-1.78, 2.95]; p=0.606 | 4 (44) | 3 (43) | 0 (0) | 1.000 | 0.606 | Fisher’s exact | Expected counts (χ² rule) | min expected=0.41 (<5) |
| Chronic Kidney Disease (nº, %) | 14 (41) | t-test Δ(1–0)=-0.90 kPa [-1.51, 3.30]; p=0.440 | 4 (44) | 2 (29) | 0 (0) | 0.762 | 0.440 | Fisher’s exact | Expected counts (χ² rule) | min expected=0.35 (<5) |
| Number of diuretics | 1.5 (± 0.7) | Spearman ρ=0.16; p=0.533 | 1.7 (± 0.7) | 1.7 (± 0.5) | 3.0 (± NA) | 0.227 | 0.533 | Kruskal–Wallis | Shapiro–Wilk (residuals); Levene (median) | Shapiro p=0.002; Levene p=0.431 |
| NYHA ≥3 (nº, %) | 3 (14) | t-test Δ(1–0)=1.86 kPa [-5.50, 1.78]; p=0.292 | 0 (0) | 2 (29) | 0 (0) | 0.300 | 0.292 | Fisher’s exact | Expected counts (χ² rule) | min expected=0.12 (<5) |
| Edema (nº, %) | 2 (9) | t-test Δ(1–0)=0.31 kPa [-4.10, 3.48]; p=0.861 | 1 (12) | 1 (14) | 0 (0) | 1.000 | 0.861 | Fisher’s exact | Expected counts (χ² rule) | min expected=0.12 (<5) |
| Ascitis (nº, %) | 1 (5) | t-test Δ(1–0)=2.48 kPa [-7.46, 2.50]; p=0.304 | 0 (0) | 1 (14) | 0 (0) | 0.500 | 0.304 | Fisher’s exact | Expected counts (χ² rule) | min expected=0.06 (<5) |
| Diuretic resistance (nº, %) | 12 (36) | t-test Δ(1–0)=0.34 kPa [-2.71, 2.04]; p=0.765 | 3 (33) | 3 (43) | 1 (100) | 0.773 | 0.765 | Fisher’s exact | Expected counts (χ² rule) | min expected=0.41 (<5) |
| MELD-XI | 10.8 (± 6.1) | Pearson r=0.25 [-0.26, 0.65]; p=0.331 | 9.8 (± 4.2) | 10.2 (± 5.9) | 15.2 (± NA) | 0.601 | 0.331 | ANOVA | Shapiro–Wilk (residuals); Levene (median) | Shapiro p=0.713; Levene p=0.269 |
| FIB-4 score | 5.6 (± 7.1) | Spearman ρ=0.29; p=0.273 | 7.0 (± 11.5) | 4.6 (± 3.2) | 9.0 (± NA) | 0.445 | 0.273 | Kruskal–Wallis | Shapiro–Wilk (residuals); Levene (median) | Shapiro p=<0.001; Levene p=0.731 |
| VEXUS ≥2 (nº, %) | 5 (28) | t-test Δ(1–0)=1.97 kPa [-4.30, 0.36]; p=0.092 | 2 (22) | 2 (29) | 1 (100) | 0.369 | 0.092 | Fisher’s exact | Expected counts (χ² rule) | min expected=0.29 (<5) |
| 1 Continuous association column: Pearson if both variables pass Shapiro (p>0.05), otherwise Spearman. For binary rows: t-test if residual normality + Levene OK, otherwise Wilcoxon. | ||||||||||
| 2 Group comparison: continuous → ANOVA if Shapiro(residuals) & Levene OK, otherwise Kruskal–Wallis; binary → Chi-squared if all expected ≥5, otherwise Fisher’s exact. | ||||||||||