Study of demographic and risk factors associated with liver diseases. (26th October 2021) - Sheth, Disha
Liver diseases can be diagnosed by interpreting enzyme abnormality pattern and patient characteristics. Despite growing evidence suggesting different causes, there is a need to explore the risk factors which lead to liver diseases in different population. NHANES data (2015-2016) was investigated for gender, age, race and country of birth in patients with high liver enzymes values. Different elements were also studied for significant liver disease risk based on odds ratio, 95% confidence interval and relative risk using Fisher exact test. Results showed US-born, non-Hispanic white young males had high values for liver enzymes, demonstrating greater risk in such population for liver diseases. Odds ratio (< 1.0); P-value of significance (< 0.0001) indicated negligible risk associated with all elements - iron overload, diabetes, smoking, alcohol, blood pressure, total cholesterol, obesity, total protein, albumin and total calcium. Validation studies were also performed using NHANES data (2013-2014), authenticating the results obtained.