title: [Gender and liver, nutritional and metabolic alterations of severe alcoholism: a study of 480 patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze gender differences in the hepatic, nutritional and metabolic complications associated with alcoholism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study in alcoholic patients admitted to detoxification in two university hospitals of Barcelona between 1999 and 2006. During admission, co-morbidity prior to admission was assessed and blood samples to analyze biological markers were collected. Demographic and anthropometric data, daily alcohol consumption and other drug use characteristics were also obtained at admission.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 566 admissions in 480 patients (375 males). Age at admission was 43 years (IQR: 36.3-49.0 years). Overall, 68.4% showed macrocytosis (MCV > 95 fl), 81.7% GGT>40 U/L and 57.7% AST>37 U/L. Regarding liver function tests, frequency of alkaline phosphatase > 120 U/L was significantly higher in women (18.5 vs 10.5%, p=0.037). However, the prevalence of hyperferritinemia (> 90 ng/mL) was significantly higher in alcoholic men (85.7% vs 62.2%) (p=0.000). Having multiple liver function test alterations was significantly higher in men (OR: 1.64, 95% CI: 1.01-2.65) (p=0.043). Women showed significant differences regarding the prevalence of macrocytosis (77.5% vs 65.8%, p=0.026), low serum creatinine (< 0.7 mg/100mL) (28.2 vs 14.6%, p=0.001), low serum ferritin (< 30 ng/mL) (10.8 vs 3.9%, p=0.020), as well as of multiple nutritional alterations (OR: 1.59, 95% CI: 1.02-2.48) (p=0.040). However, men had higher prevalence of anemia than women (32.3 vs 21.4%, p=0.032). Prevalence of type I obesity (BMI>30 kg/m(2)) was significantly higher in alcoholic women (29.2 vs 7.9%, p=0.007).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hepatic, nutritional and metabolic complications of alcoholism in women are frequent, thus increasing the risk of developing adverse clinical outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Servei de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Badalona, Barcelona, España. asanvisens.igtp.germanstrias@gencat.cat
authors.forename: Arantza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sanvisens
authors.forename: Inmaculada
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rivas
authors.forename: Ferran
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bolao
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tor
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rosón
authors.forename: Celestino
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rey-Joly
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Muga
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors