Thrombocytopenia and its related factors: a hospital-based, cross-sectional study.
BACKGROUND
The objective of this study was to explore the association between thrombocytopenia and its related factors.


METHODS
This was a hospital-based, cross-sectional study. We retrospectively analysed the medical records of all patients who received periodic health examinations at a medical centre located at Taichung in Taiwan between 2000 and 2004. In all, 5585 subjects were included for further analysis. A complete physical examination, laboratory survey and abdominal ultrasonography were performed on each subject. The t-test, chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used.


RESULTS
The subjects consisted of 3123 men (55.9%) and 2462 women (44.1%). The mean age was 49.4 +/- 12.3 years (range, 20 to 87). The overall prevalence of thrombocytopenia was found to be 0.5%, higher in men than in women (0.6% vs 0.4%, P = 0.504). After controlling for the other covariates, multivariate logistic regression analysis exhibited that the factors significantly related to thrombocytopenia were increasing age (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.004-1.08), anti-HCV positive (OR, 5.24; 95% CI, 2.08-13.20), liver cirrhosis (OR, 7.93; 95% CI, 2.28-27.62), and splenomegaly (OR, 18.86; 95% CI, 6.86-51.87).


CONCLUSIONS
It is advisable to further check the hepatic status, if thrombocytopenia is noted.
Lai
Shih Wei
SW
Department of Family Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung City, Taiwan.
Huang
Ching Yi
CY
Lai
Hsueh Chou
HC
Liao
Kuan Fu
KF
Lai
Yen Miao
YM
Liu
Chiu Shong
CS
Lin
Tsann
T
D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies