Prevalence and risk factors of elevated alanine aminotransferase among Korean adolescents: 2001-2014
Abstract Background An elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level is a surrogate marker of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the most common liver disorder in adolescents. The majority of previous NAFLD studies in adolescents were performed in selected obese populations or had a cross-se...
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BMC
2018-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-018-5548-9 |
| _version_ | 1830134759988133888 |
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| author | Ju Whi Kim Kyung Jae Lee Hye Ran Yang Ju Young Chang Jin Soo Moon Young-Ho Khang Jae Sung Ko |
| author_facet | Ju Whi Kim Kyung Jae Lee Hye Ran Yang Ju Young Chang Jin Soo Moon Young-Ho Khang Jae Sung Ko |
| author_sort | Ju Whi Kim |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background An elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level is a surrogate marker of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the most common liver disorder in adolescents. The majority of previous NAFLD studies in adolescents were performed in selected obese populations or had a cross-sectional design without a time-trend analysis. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence and time trends of elevated ALT levels in a general adolescent population and to identify factors associated with ALT elevation. Methods We analysed data of adolescent participants (aged 10–18 years) from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001–2014, a representative sample of the general population in South Korea. Suspected NAFLD was defined as ALT elevation (> 30 U/L) without hepatitis B surface antigen. In all statistical analyses, sampling weight- and design-based data were used. Results ALT was elevated in 5.3% (standard error: 0.3%) of the study population of adolescent participants (N = 8455). No significant trends were found from 2001 to 2014 in the prevalence of elevated ALT among male and female adolescents. In multiple logistic regression analysis, elevated ALT was independently associated with sex (odds ratio [OR] male versus female 4.5; 95% CI, 3.3-6.2), obesity (OR 7.6; 95% CI, 5.3-11.0), and truncal obesity (OR 2.5; 95% CI, 1.8-3.5). Furthermore, male sex, obesity, truncal obesity and high household income level were associated with log-transformed ALT levels in multiple regression analysis. Conclusions In Korean adolescents of both genders, the prevalence of elevated ALT levels was stable from 2001 to 2014. This study has revealed that sex, obesity, truncal obesity and household income level are associated with ALT elevation in adolescents. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T07:18:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-df3140d85f9d4c7c8e6a1e39bf14f479 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T07:18:55Z |
| publishDate | 2018-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-df3140d85f9d4c7c8e6a1e39bf14f4792022-12-21T21:58:49ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582018-05-011811810.1186/s12889-018-5548-9Prevalence and risk factors of elevated alanine aminotransferase among Korean adolescents: 2001-2014Ju Whi Kim0Kyung Jae Lee1Hye Ran Yang2Ju Young Chang3Jin Soo Moon4Young-Ho Khang5Jae Sung Ko6Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of MedicineDepartment of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of MedicineDepartment of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of MedicineDepartment of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of MedicineDepartment of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of MedicineDepartment of Health Policy and Management, Seoul National University College of MedicineDepartment of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of MedicineAbstract Background An elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level is a surrogate marker of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the most common liver disorder in adolescents. The majority of previous NAFLD studies in adolescents were performed in selected obese populations or had a cross-sectional design without a time-trend analysis. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence and time trends of elevated ALT levels in a general adolescent population and to identify factors associated with ALT elevation. Methods We analysed data of adolescent participants (aged 10–18 years) from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001–2014, a representative sample of the general population in South Korea. Suspected NAFLD was defined as ALT elevation (> 30 U/L) without hepatitis B surface antigen. In all statistical analyses, sampling weight- and design-based data were used. Results ALT was elevated in 5.3% (standard error: 0.3%) of the study population of adolescent participants (N = 8455). No significant trends were found from 2001 to 2014 in the prevalence of elevated ALT among male and female adolescents. In multiple logistic regression analysis, elevated ALT was independently associated with sex (odds ratio [OR] male versus female 4.5; 95% CI, 3.3-6.2), obesity (OR 7.6; 95% CI, 5.3-11.0), and truncal obesity (OR 2.5; 95% CI, 1.8-3.5). Furthermore, male sex, obesity, truncal obesity and high household income level were associated with log-transformed ALT levels in multiple regression analysis. Conclusions In Korean adolescents of both genders, the prevalence of elevated ALT levels was stable from 2001 to 2014. This study has revealed that sex, obesity, truncal obesity and household income level are associated with ALT elevation in adolescents.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-018-5548-9Alanine aminotransferasePrevalenceFatty liver |
| spellingShingle | Ju Whi Kim Kyung Jae Lee Hye Ran Yang Ju Young Chang Jin Soo Moon Young-Ho Khang Jae Sung Ko Prevalence and risk factors of elevated alanine aminotransferase among Korean adolescents: 2001-2014 BMC Public Health Alanine aminotransferase Prevalence Fatty liver |
| title | Prevalence and risk factors of elevated alanine aminotransferase among Korean adolescents: 2001-2014 |
| title_full | Prevalence and risk factors of elevated alanine aminotransferase among Korean adolescents: 2001-2014 |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence and risk factors of elevated alanine aminotransferase among Korean adolescents: 2001-2014 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence and risk factors of elevated alanine aminotransferase among Korean adolescents: 2001-2014 |
| title_short | Prevalence and risk factors of elevated alanine aminotransferase among Korean adolescents: 2001-2014 |
| title_sort | prevalence and risk factors of elevated alanine aminotransferase among korean adolescents 2001 2014 |
| topic | Alanine aminotransferase Prevalence Fatty liver |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-018-5548-9 |
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