Hepatic Encephalopathy is Associated With Slow Speech on Objective Assessment. (2nd September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bloom, Patricia P.; Robin, Jessica; Xu, Mengdan; Arvind, Ashwini; Daidone, Michael; Gupta, Anoopum S.; Chung, Raymond T.
• Is Part Of: American journal of gastroenterology. Volume 116:Number 9(2021)
• Page Start: 1950
• Page End: 1953
• Publication Date: 2021-09-02
• Subjects: Stomach -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Intestines -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Gastroenterology -- Periodicals; Gastrointestinal Diseases -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 616.33
• DOI: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000001351
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0002-9270

Abstract

Abstract : Introduction: There are no available low-burden, point-of-care tests to diagnose, grade, and predict hepatic encephalopathy (HE). Methods: We evaluated speech as a biomarker of HE in 76 English-speaking adults with cirrhosis. Results: Three speech features significantly correlated with the following neuropsychiatric scores: speech rate, word duration, and use of particles. Patients with low neuropsychiatric scores had slower speech (22 words/min, P = 0.01), longer word duration (0.09 seconds/word, P = 0.01), and used fewer particles (0.85% fewer, P = 0.01). Patients with a history of overt HE had slower speech (23 words/min, P = 0.005) and longer word duration (0.09 seconds/word, P = 0.005). Discussion: HE is associated with slower speech. Abstract :