Inclusion Criteria:  established diagnosis of cirrhosis (based on liver biopsy or the combination of clinical, biochemical, and imaging findings) witnessed or reported evidence of gastrointestinal haemorrhage (hematemesis, melenemesis, or hematochezia) esophageal or gastric varices confirmed endoscopically as the source of bleeding  Exclusion Criteria:  severe dysfunction of a major extrahepatic organ (e.g., heart failure, pulmonary disease, and terminal malignancy except hepatocellular carcinoma) history of endoscopic therapy for varices (ligation or sclerotherapy) within three months incomplete or missing data