Background: Altered lipid metabolism is common in liver cirrhosis and may reflect impaired hepatic function.
Objective: To assess the association of serum lipid levels with cirrhosis severity and complications at Thai Binh General Hospital.
Methods: A cross-sectional study included 116 patients with cirrhosis from January to November 2025. Severity was classified by Child-Pugh class. Total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, and triglycerides were measured; dyslipidemia was defined as at least one abnormal lipid parameter according to NCEP-ATP III.
Results: The overall prevalence of dyslipidemia was 82.8%; rates in Child-Pugh A, B, and C were 90.0%, 74.1%, and 91.7%, respectively (p = 0.048). Total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, and triglyceride levels decreased with increasing cirrhosis severity, with significant between-group differences (p ≤ 0.003). All lipid parameters were inversely correlated with Child-Pugh severity (r = -0.318 to -0.501; p < 0.001). Ascites occurred in 52.1% of patients with dyslipidemia and 25.0% of those without dyslipidemia (p = 0.027). No significant association was found with gastrointestinal bleeding, hepatic encephalopathy, or spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.
Conclusion: Decreased serum lipid levels were associated with greater severity of liver cirrhosis. No clear associations were observed between dyslipidemia and age, sex, BMI, or the etiology of cirrhosis.