Epidemiology of fatty liver in a hospital-based study in Taiwan.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to assess the epidemiology of fatty liver in Taiwan.


METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of all patients receiving health examinations at China Medical College Hospital from January through December 2000. A total of 1,012 subjects were included for analysis. Data were analyzed using the t test, chi-square analysis, and multivariate logistic regression.


RESULTS
Our cohort was comprised of 41.8% women and 58.2% men; mean age was 49.2 years. The prevalence of fatty liver was 36.9% in all subjects, and prevalence was higher in men than in women. After controlling for other covariates, the multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the significant factors related to fatty liver were male sex, obesity, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, elevated glutamate pyruvate transaminase level, and hyperuricemia. Elevated glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase level was negatively associated with fatty liver.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of fatty liver is high in Taiwan. This study establishes background data for further investigation.
Lai
Shih-Wei
SW
Department of Community Medicine, China Medical College Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
Tan
Chee-Keong
CK
Ng
Kim-Choy
KC
D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology