Association between body mass index and liver disorders: an epidemiological study. Meier, C. R., Krähenbühl, S., Schlienger, R. G., & Jick, H. Journal of Hepatology, 37(6):741--747, December, 2002.
abstract   bibtex   
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Cross-sectional studies showed an association between obesity and liver disorders. Information on incidence rates from epidemiological studies is scarce. METHODS: To explore the association between body mass index (BMI) and incident liver disorders, we conducted a follow-up study with a nested case-control analysis using the UK-based General Practice Research Database. The study population encompassed normal weight (BMI \textless25 kg/m(2)), pre-obese (BMI 25-29.9 kg/m(2)) or obese (BMI \textgreater or =30 kg/m(2)) subjects aged 20-79 years, matched on age, sex and general practice attended. RESULTS: Within the study population of 207,630 subjects, we identified 2718 cases of newly diagnosed liver disorder, of whom 1524 (56.1%) had known predisposing conditions. The incidence rates were 2.48 (95% CI 2.31-2.66)/1000 person-years (py) in normal weight, 2.91 (95% CI 2.72-3.11)/1000 py in pre-obese, and 3.83 (95% CI 3.62-4.07)/1000 py in obese subjects. In the nested case-control analysis, the adjusted odds ratio (OR) for obese, as compared to normal weight subjects, was 1.2 (95% CI 1.1-1.4). The OR for idiopathic cases (without known risk factors for liver disorders) was 1.3 (95% CI 1.1-1.6). CONCLUSIONS: The study indicates that obesity is associated with a modest increase in the incidence of newly diagnosed liver disorder.
@article{meier_association_2002,
	title = {Association between body mass index and liver disorders: an epidemiological study},
	volume = {37},
	issn = {0168-8278},
	shorttitle = {Association between body mass index and liver disorders},
	abstract = {BACKGROUND/AIMS: Cross-sectional studies showed an association between obesity and liver disorders. Information on incidence rates from epidemiological studies is scarce.
METHODS: To explore the association between body mass index (BMI) and incident liver disorders, we conducted a follow-up study with a nested case-control analysis using the UK-based General Practice Research Database. The study population encompassed normal weight (BMI {\textless}25 kg/m(2)), pre-obese (BMI 25-29.9 kg/m(2)) or obese (BMI {\textgreater} or =30 kg/m(2)) subjects aged 20-79 years, matched on age, sex and general practice attended.
RESULTS: Within the study population of 207,630 subjects, we identified 2718 cases of newly diagnosed liver disorder, of whom 1524 (56.1\%) had known predisposing conditions. The incidence rates were 2.48 (95\% CI 2.31-2.66)/1000 person-years (py) in normal weight, 2.91 (95\% CI 2.72-3.11)/1000 py in pre-obese, and 3.83 (95\% CI 3.62-4.07)/1000 py in obese subjects. In the nested case-control analysis, the adjusted odds ratio (OR) for obese, as compared to normal weight subjects, was 1.2 (95\% CI 1.1-1.4). The OR for idiopathic cases (without known risk factors for liver disorders) was 1.3 (95\% CI 1.1-1.6).
CONCLUSIONS: The study indicates that obesity is associated with a modest increase in the incidence of newly diagnosed liver disorder.},
	language = {eng},
	number = {6},
	journal = {Journal of Hepatology},
	author = {Meier, Christoph R. and Krähenbühl, Stephan and Schlienger, Raymond G. and Jick, Hershel},
	month = dec,
	year = {2002},
	pmid = {12445413},
	keywords = {Adult, Aged, Body Mass Index, Case-Control Studies, Female, Humans, Liver Diseases, Male, Middle Aged, Obesity, Odds Ratio, incidence},
	pages = {741--747}
}

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