Risk of further decompensation/mortality in patients with cirrhosis and ascites as the first single decompensation event

•A course of patients with first single ascites decompensation has so far not been described.•MELD score is important for risk prediction/stratification in patients with grade 2 ascites but not grade 3 ascites.•A threshold of MELD at 15 points discriminates patients with favourable/poor outcome in patients with grade 2 ascites.•In patients with grade 3 ascites, regardless of MELD, treatment strategies should be intensified.