Neither diabetes mellitus nor overweight is a risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma in a dual HBV and HCV endemic area: community cross-sectional and case-control studies.
OBJECTIVE
Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are well-known risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma, and diabetes mellitus (DM) and overweight have also been reported as risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We tried to elucidate the roles of DM and overweight in HCC development in a dual HBV and HCV endemic area of southern Taiwan.


METHODS
In 2004, a community-based comprehensive screening program was conducted in Tainan County. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-HCV, alpha-fetoprotein, complete blood counts, triglyceride, cholesterol, and glucose levels were examined. DM was defined as fasting blood sugar >126 mg per 100 ml, and overweight was defined as a body mass index >24 kg m(-2). Subjects with thrombocytopenia (platelet count <150 x 10(9) l(-1)) and elevated alpha-fetoprotein (>20 ng ml(-1)) underwent ultrasonographic screening for HCC. A total of 56,307 adults (>40 years old) participated, and 72 new HCC cases were detected and confirmed.


RESULTS
In comparisons of all 72 HCC cases with the other 144 individual age-, sex-, residency-, HBsAg-, and anti-HCV-matched controls, only thrombocytopenia and high alanine transaminase (ALT) levels were shown to be independent risk factors. Neither DM nor overweight was shown to be significant in any of the analyses.


CONCLUSIONS
On the basis of the community-based cross-sectional and case-controlled studies, neither DM nor overweight was a risk factor for HCC in a dual HBV and HCV endemic area. However, male gender, age (> or =65 years), HBsAg, anti-HCV, thrombocytopenia, and high ALT levels were independent risk factors for HCC.
Tung
Hung-Da
HD
Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Wang
Jing-Houng
JH
Tseng
Po-Lin
PL
Hung
Chao-Hung
CH
Kee
Kwong-Ming
KM
Chen
Chien-Hung
CH
Chang
Kuo-Chin
KC
Lee
Chuan-Mo
CM
Changchien
Chi-Sin
CS
Chen
Yao-Der
YD
Lu
Sheng-Nan
SN
D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000453:epidemiology
D000410:Alanine Transaminase