Abstract

Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels reflect skeletal muscle volume and general performance, which are associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) development and prognosis. This study aimed to investigate ALT levels as a risk factor for COPD development. This 13-year population-based retrospective observational cohort study included 422,452 participants for analysis. We classified groups according to the baseline ALT levels (groups 1–5: ALT (IU/L) < 10; 10–19; 20–29; 30–39; and ≥ 40, respectively). The incidence of COPD was the highest in group 1, decreasing as the group number increased in males, but not in females. The Cox regression analysis in males revealed that a lower ALT level, as a continuous variable, was a significant risk factor for COPD development [univariable, hazard ratio (HR): 0.992, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.991–0.994; multivariable, HR: 0.998, 95% CI: 0.996–0.999]. In addition, COPD was more likely to develop in the lower ALT level groups (groups 1–4; < 40 IU/L), than in the highest ALT level group (group 5; ≥ 40 IU/L) (univariable, HR: 1.341, 95% CI: 1.263–1.424; multivariable, HR: 1.097, 95% CI: 1.030–1.168). Our findings suggest that males with low ALT levels should be carefully monitored for COPD development.

Details

Title
Low alanine aminotransferase as a risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in males
Author
Choi, Yong Jun 1 ; Kwon Do Sun 1 ; Kim, Taehee 1 ; Cho, Jae Hwa 1 ; Kim Hyung Jung 1 ; Byun, Min Kwang 1 ; Park, Hye Jung 1 

 Yonsei University College of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Seoul, Korea (GRID:grid.15444.30) (ISNI:0000 0004 0470 5454) 
Publication year
2021
Publication date
2021
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
e-ISSN
20452322
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2553615489
Copyright
© The Author(s) 2021. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.