Abstract:
Background: Liver enzymes such as alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase
are considered indicators of hepatocellular health in general population. Elevated
aminotransferases levels are be considered as an alarming sign for chronic disease development;
they might enhance the ability to quickly identify people with the most prevalent risk factors for
type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease and may be useful in strategies for the prevention of
these disorders.
Objective: To determine prevalence of elevated aminotransferases levels and to assess their
relationship with major risk factors for chronic noncommunicable diseases among adults residing
in Gilgel Gibe Field Research Center.
Methods: Data from the community based cross sectional study conducted in 2008-09 by Jimma
University in Gilgel Gibe Field Research Center using WHO STEPs wise approach was used.
The data for the analysis came from a randomly selected sample of 1626 (802 males and 824
females) individuals aged 15 years and over to establish biochemical reference ranges.
Results: The overall prevalence of elevated ALT, AST, and both ALT and AST were 37.8 %,
41.1%, and 27.7% respectively. The prevalence of elevated serum ALT (p=0.009), and AST (p=
0.002) level revealed a statistically significant decrease with increasing age . In multivariable
analysis factors independently associated with elevated ALT were high body mass index (BMI),
AOR= 2.10, 95% CI1.14-3.89, waist to hip ratio (WHR) AOR= 1.77, 95% CI 1.41-2.22, high
total cholesterol AOR=1.48, 95% CI: 1.09 -1.99, and raised triglyceride AOR=1.36, 95% CI:
1.05-1.77. On the other hand, high BMI AOR=1.94, 95% CI: 1.03-3.65, WHR AOR= 1.28,
95% CI: 1.03-1.59, high total cholesterol, AOR=1.95, 95% CI: 1.43-2.65 and raised triglyceride
AOR=1.43, 95% CI: 1.10 -1.87 were independently and significantly associated with elevated
level of AST.
Conclusion: Higher BMI, WHR, total cholesterol, and raised triglyceride were independently
associated with elevated ALT, and AST.
