title: Factors associated with significant liver fibrosis assessed using transient elastography in general population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the prevalence of significant liver fibrosis assessed using transient elastography (TE) and its predictors in asymptomatic general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 159 subjects without chronic viral hepatitis who underwent comprehensive medical health check-up between January 2012 and July 2012 were prospectively recruited. Significant liver fibrosis was defined as liver stiffness value>7.0 kPa.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age and body mass index (BMI) of the study population (men 54.7%) was 56.0 years and 24.3 kg/m2. Among the study subjects, 11 (6.9%) showed significant liver fibrosis. On univariate analysis, BMI, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, carotid intimal media thickness (IMT), number of calcified plaques on carotid ultrasound, and visceral fat area on computed tomography were significantly higher in subjects with significant liver fibrosis than in those without (all P<0.05). However, on multivariate analysis, BMI [odds ratio (OR)=.487; P=0.045], ALT (OR=1.078; P=0.014), carotid IMT (OR=3.244; P=0.027), and the number of calcified carotid plaques (OR=1.787; P=0.031) were independent predictors of significant liver fibrosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of significant liver fibrosis assessed using TE was 6.9% in apparently healthy subjects. High BMI, high ALT, thicker carotid IMT, and higher numbers of calcified carotid plaques were independently associated with the presence of significant liver fibrosis.
authors: Seng Chan You, Kwang Joon Kim, Seung Up Kim, Beom Kyung Kim, Jun Yong Park, Do Young Kim, Sang Hoon Ahn, Kwang-Hyub Han, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 120-752, South Korea.
authors: Seng Chan
authors: SC
authors: You
authors: Seng Chan You, Kwang Joon Kim, Seung Up Kim, Beom Kyung Kim, Jun Yong Park, Do Young Kim, Sang Hoon Ahn, Kwang-Hyub Han, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 120-752, South Korea.
authors: Kwang Joon
authors: KJ
authors: Kim
authors: Seng Chan You, Kwang Joon Kim, Seung Up Kim, Beom Kyung Kim, Jun Yong Park, Do Young Kim, Sang Hoon Ahn, Kwang-Hyub Han, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 120-752, South Korea.
authors: Seung Up
authors: SU
authors: Kim
authors: Seng Chan You, Kwang Joon Kim, Seung Up Kim, Beom Kyung Kim, Jun Yong Park, Do Young Kim, Sang Hoon Ahn, Kwang-Hyub Han, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 120-752, South Korea.
authors: Beom Kyung
authors: BK
authors: Kim
authors: Seng Chan You, Kwang Joon Kim, Seung Up Kim, Beom Kyung Kim, Jun Yong Park, Do Young Kim, Sang Hoon Ahn, Kwang-Hyub Han, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 120-752, South Korea.
authors: Jun Yong
authors: JY
authors: Park
authors: Seng Chan You, Kwang Joon Kim, Seung Up Kim, Beom Kyung Kim, Jun Yong Park, Do Young Kim, Sang Hoon Ahn, Kwang-Hyub Han, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 120-752, South Korea.
authors: Do Young
authors: DY
authors: Kim
authors: Seng Chan You, Kwang Joon Kim, Seung Up Kim, Beom Kyung Kim, Jun Yong Park, Do Young Kim, Sang Hoon Ahn, Kwang-Hyub Han, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 120-752, South Korea.
authors: Sang Hoon
authors: SH
authors: Ahn
authors: Seng Chan You, Kwang Joon Kim, Seung Up Kim, Beom Kyung Kim, Jun Yong Park, Do Young Kim, Sang Hoon Ahn, Kwang-Hyub Han, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 120-752, South Korea.
authors: Won Jae
authors: WJ
authors: Lee
authors: Seng Chan You, Kwang Joon Kim, Seung Up Kim, Beom Kyung Kim, Jun Yong Park, Do Young Kim, Sang Hoon Ahn, Kwang-Hyub Han, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 120-752, South Korea.
authors: Kwang-Hyub
authors: KH
authors: Han
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015897:Comorbidity; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D061205:Vascular Calcification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Alanine aminotransferase; Body mass index; Carotid artery plaque; Carotid intimal medial thickness; Fibroscan; Healthy subjects; Liver fibrosis; Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis; Transient elastography
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