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  • Clinical Implications in the Prevalence and Associated Cardiovascular Factors of Elevated Serum Alanine Aminotransferase Levels Among Elderly Agricultural and Fishing Population in Taipei, Taiwan

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Clinical Implications in the Prevalence and Associated Cardiovascular Factors of Elevated Serum Alanine Aminotransferase Levels Among Elderly Agricultural and Fishing Population in Taipei, Taiwan
  1. Yu-Fen Chen, MS*,
  2. Yi-Chun Hu, MS†,
  3. Hsi-Che Shen, MD, PhD‡,
  4. Hui-Te Chang, BS§,
  5. Tao-Hsin Tung, PhD∥
  1. From the *NHI Dispute Mediation Committee, Ministry of Health and Welfare; Institute of Health and Welfare Policy, National Yang-Ming University; Department of Nursing, Kang-Ning Junior College of Medical Care and Management, Taipei, Taiwan; †College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University; New Taipei City Hospital; Oriental Institute of Technology, Taipei, Taiwan; ‡New Taipei City Hospital; Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of HealthCare Management, Yuanpei University, Hsinchu, Taiwan; §Faculty of Public Health, School of Medicine, Fu-Jen Catholic University, Taipei, Taiwan; ∥Cheng Hsin General Hospital; Faculty of Public Health, School of Medicine, Fu-Jen Catholic University, Taipei, Taiwan.
  1. Received July 4, 2013, and in revised form August 23, 2013.
  2. Accepted for publication September 24, 2013.
  3. Reprints: Tao-Hsin Tung, PhD, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Shih-Pai, Taipei 112, Taiwan. E-mail: ch2876{at}chgh.org.tw.
  4. Yu-Fen Chen, Yi Chun Hu, and Hsi Che Shen contributed equally in this study.
  5. This study was supported by grants from the National Science Council (NSC-98-2314-B-350-002-MY3).
  6. Conflicts of Interest: All authors certify that all our affiliations with or financial involvement in, within the past 5 years and foreseeable future, any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript are completely disclosed (eg, employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, and royalties).

Experience at a Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Aim To discuss the prevalence and associated factors related to an elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level among the elderly agricultural and fishing population.

Methods A total of 6542 (3989 males and 2553 females) healthy adults voluntarily admitted to a teaching hospital for a physical checkup in 2010 in Taipei, Taiwan. Fasting blood samples were drawn via venipuncture, and clinical nurses interviewed the study participants using a structured questionnaire from.

Results The overall prevalence of an elevated serum ALT level was 18.2% and revealed a statistically significant decrease with increasing age (P < 0.001). The men exhibited a higher prevalence than the women (19.7% vs 15.9%; P < 0.001). Male sex; younger age; and presence of obesity, hypertension, hyperuricemia, and hypoalbuminemia were significantly associated with an elevated serum ALT level. Sex-related differences were also revealed. For the men, type 2 diabetes (odds ratio [OR], 1.23; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02–1.57), hypercholesterolemia (OR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.22–2.83), hypertriglyceridemia (OR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.04–1.73), and low high-density lipoprotein (OR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.05–1.51) were significantly related to an elevated serum ALT level, but this was not so for the women. The disparity of ALT in age groups was revealed.

Conclusion Several sex-related differences were indicated pertaining to the prevalence of an elevated serum ALT level among elderly specific occupational population.

Key Words
  • alanine aminotransferase
  • prevalence
  • sex difference
  • elderly
  • agricultural and fishing population

http://dx.doi.org/10.2310/JIM.0000000000000018

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