Normality tables of the population in Cuba for the psychometric tests used in the diagnosis of minimal hepatic encephalopathy

Background and objectives: Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) is the subclinical stage pre-clinical development of hepatic encephalopathy in cirrhotic patients, in addition to associated with impaired quality of life of these patients and an increased risk of accidents and disability of driving. The Psychometric Hepatic Encephalopathy Score (PHES) is currently considered the diagnostic method of choice in the diagnosis of MHE. The objective of this work was to design tables PHES normality for the Cuban population. Methodology: A sample composed of 520 healthy people in the provinces of Villa Clara, Sancti Spiritus and Cienfuegos were studied. They made the 5 tests included in the PHES. The variables age, sex, years of education, origin, and daily alcohol consumption were analyzed. By t test of Student, ANOVA and Pearson correlation coefficient univariate analysis. An analysis of multiple linear regression for each test was performed and normal tables were constructed. Results: In the multivariate analysis (multiple linear regression) age and years of schooling were the two independent variables related to performance in each of the 5 tests. Conclusions: The availability of tables PHES normality will provide a diagnostic method applicable reference to patients with liver cirrhosis Cubans, without the need to configure controlled for age and education level regional groups.