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


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Liu
Chi-Ming
CM
Community Medicine Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Shih-Pai, 112, Taipei, Taiwan, China. pschou@ym.edu.tw.
Tung
Tao-Hsin
TH
Liu
Jorn-Hon
JH
Chen
Victor-Tze-Kai
VT
Lin
Ching-Heng
CH
Hsu
Chung-Te
CT
Chou
Pesus
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D033461:Hyperuricemia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
D000410:Alanine Transaminase