ALB and Ascites: As shown in Table 3, non-surviving patients displayed a male preponderance (59% vs 38%; P = .012), higher incidence of ascites (62% vs 46%; P = .049), higher MELD score (10.8 vs 9.3; P = .005), higher alanine aminotransferase level (41 vs 32 IU/L; P = .006), lower albumin level (3.0 vs 3.3 mg/dL; P = .039), and lower sodium level (138 vs 140 mEq/L; P = .010).