Review for 10.1186/s12876-016-0434-3 (2016)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Effect of Coexisting Diabetes Mellitus and Chronic Kidney Disease  on Mortality of 
Cirrhotic Patients with Esophageal Variceal Bleeding  
 
 
Version: 1 Date: 17 Dec 2015  
 
 
Reviewer: Vincenzo  La Mura  
 
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
I think that the etiologies of chronic kidney disease (CKD) should be detailed in a different way. 
The sum of the several conditions asso ciated with CKD (e.g. diabetes, hypertension, gout etc.) is 
over 100% in the current version of the manuscript. I believe this is the consequence that, often, 
hypertension, diabetes etc. can be simultaneously present in the same patients. I suggest to list  
the percentage of the etiologies as follows: diabetes alone (X%), diabetes + hypertension (Y%), 
diabetes + other etiologies (Z%), etiologies other than diabetes (W%)…and so on. At the same 
time, I wonder how was the mortality at 42 days and at one year fr om the index bleeding for each 
of the above -mentioned categories. Pursuing this analysis is in accordance with the aim of testing 
the influence of such frequent comorbidities, as diabetes and CKD are, on hard clinical end -
points related with portal hyperte nsion in cirrhosis.  
 
It would be interesting analyzing how many HCC were HBV positive HCC since chronic HBV 
infection increases, per se, the probability of developing a primitive liver cancer. Indeed behind 
the univariable association between HBV and the clinical outcomes cons idered in the analysis 
could be a high prevalence of HBV -related HCC. If so this could be commented in the 
discussion.  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
Are the conclusions drawn ade quately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical  review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I recommend additional statistical review  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Needs some language corrections before being published  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
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