A community-based epidemiological study of elevated serum alanine aminotransferase levels in Kinmen, Taiwan

Abstract

AIM:To explore any gender-related differences in prevalence of and condition-associated factors related to an elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level amongst residents of Kinmen, Taiwan. METHODS:A total of 11 898 of a potential 20 112 regional residents aged 30 years or more completed a related questionnaire that was carried out by the Yang-Ming Crusade between 1991 and 1994 inclusively, with blood samples being collected by public nurses. The overall questionnaire response rate was 59.3% (52.4% for males and 66.0% for females). RESULTS:The prevalence of an elevated serum ALT level for this sub-population was found to be 7.2%, the prevalence revealing a statistically significant decrease with increasing population age (P<0.0001). Males exhibited a greater prevalence of elevated serum ALT level than did females (9.4% vs 5.3%, P<0.0001). Using multiple logistic regression analysis, in addition to male gender, a younger age, greater waist circumference, presence of type-2 diabetes and hyperuricemia were the significant factors associated with an elevated serum ALT level for both males and females. Gender-related differences as regards associated factors were also revealed. For males, obesity was significantly related to an elevated serum ALT level (OR = 1.28, 95%CI: 1.00-1.66) but this was not so for females (OR = 1.09, 95%CI: 0.84-1.42). Hypertriglyceridemia (OR = 1.80, 95%CI: 1.36-2.39) and hyperuricemia (OR = 1.61, 95%CI: 1.03-2.52) were significantly related to elevated serum ALT levels only for females. CONCLUSION:Several gender-related differences were noted pertaining to the prevalence of and relationship between obesity, hypertriglyceridemia and hyperuricemia and elevated serum ALT level in the present study.

Clinical correlation of gallstone disease in a Chinese population in Taiwan: Experience at Cheng Hsin General Hospital

“…Possible explanatory factors include overproduction and over-secretion of bilirubin due to increased extracorpuscular hemolysis, a reduction in the production and transportation of biliary salts and cholesterol secretion, stasis and changes in bile acidification, or even mucous hypersecretion and subtle alterations in gallbladder mucosal function [24,25] . However, although early liver dysfunction such as abnormal ALT, HBV, and HCV infection are endemic in Taiwan [12,26,27] , the present study did not reveal liver function associated factors to be related to GSD prevalence. This finding is consistent with other hospital-based studies for the general population in Taiwan [2] .…”

Community-Based Epidemiologic Study on Gallstone Disease among Elderly Patients with Type 2 Diabetes in Kinmen, Taiwan

“…This implies that appropriate integrated diagnosis and therapy in the early stage of liver dysfunction might eventually enable us to prevent GSD in elderly diabetic patients. In addition, previous study showed that obesity was significantly related to an elevated serum ALT level 22 . The slighter correlation (r ¼ 0.26, p ¼ 0.03) was also found between BMI and ALT in this study.…”

Clinical and Biochemical Characteristics and Aetiology of Asymptomatic Raised Alanine Aminotransferase in Newly Detected Diabetes and Impaired Glucose Tolerance Patients

“…24,25 In different studies, male gender, younger age, greater waist circumference, presence of type 2 DM, poor glycaemic control, BMI >25 kg/m 2 , long duration of DM were significant factors associated with an elevated serum ALT level. 19,[26][27][28] On the other hand, high activity of ALT independent of age and obesity is associated with the occurrence of type 2 DM and metabolic syndrome. 29,30 In our study, elevated ALT had a significant correlation with the age and metabolic syndrome.…”