Risk factors for alcohol-related liver injury in the island population of China: a population-based case-control study.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association of alcohol dose, duration of drinking and obesity with abnormal alcohol-related liver injury indicators, the prevalence of alcohol-related liver injury in the island population of China.


METHODS
Randomized multistage stratified cluster sampling from the island population of China was used in the population-based case-control study. Then interview, physical examination, laboratory assessments and ultrasonography were done.


RESULTS
Daily alcohol intake > or = 20 g, duration of drinking > or = 5 years and obesity were closely related to alcohol-related liver injury (P < 0.05). The odds-ratio (OR) (95% CI) was 1.965 (1.122-3.442), 3.412 (1.789-6.507) and 1.887 (1.261-2.824), respectively. The prevalence rate of alcohol-related liver injury in > or = 20 g daily alcohol intake group and < 20 g daily alcohol intake group was 37.14% and 12.06%, respectively. The prevalence rate of alcohol-related liver injury in > or = 5 years drinking group and < 5 years drinking group was 34.44% and 8.53%, respectively. No significant dose-response relation was found between daily alcohol intake and abnormal alcohol-related liver injury indicators as well as between duration of drinking and abnormal alcohol-related liver injury indicators. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of alcohol-related liver injury between beer drinking group and yellow rice wine drinking group, hard liquor drinking group, multiple drinking group.


CONCLUSIONS
The risk threshold of daily alcohol intake is 20 g and duration of drinking inducing alcohol-related liver injury 5 years in the island population of China. Liver injury induced by obesity should be concerned.
Shen
Zhe
Z
Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Medicine School, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China.
Li
You-Ming
YM
Yu
Chao-Hui
CH
Shen
Yi
Y
Xu
Lei
L
Xu
Cheng-Fu
CF
Chen
Jin-Jin
JJ
Ye
Hua
H
Xu
Gen-Yun
GY
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography