Table 1. Sex-specific general characteristics according to the tertile of alanine aminotransferase/aspartate aminotransferase ratio.
| Korean men | Korean women | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T1 | T2 | T3 | P for trend | T1 | T2 | T3 | P for trend | |
| N | 1639 | 1690 | 1672 | 2136 | 2199 | 2211 | ||
| ALT, mg/dL | 15.9 ± 0.14 | 22.8 ± 0.19 | 35.9 ± 0.19 | <0.001 | 12.6 ± 0.08 | 17.3 ± 0.1 | 26.1 ± 0.1 | <0.001 |
| AST, mg/dL | 24.9 ± 0.2 | 24.6 ± 0.2 | 26.4 ± 0.2 | <0.001 | 22.2 ± 0.13 | 22.2 ± 0.13 | 23.7 ± 0.12 | <0.001 |
| ALT/AST ratio | 0.644 ± 0.0029 | 0.923 ± 0.0018 | 1.352 ± 0.0018 | <0.001 | 0.57 ± 0.002 | 0.779 ± 0.0012 | 1.098 ± 0.0012 | <0.001 |
| Age, years | 64.1 ± 0.28 | 60 ± 0.27 | 55.3 ± 0.27 | <0.001 | 60.3 ± 0.28 | 59.8 ± 0.24 | 58.4 ± 0.24 | <0.001 |
| HTN, n | 763 (46.6) | 780 (46.2) | 799 (47.8) | 0.614 | 765 (35.8) | 877 (39.9) | 987 (44.6) | <0.001 |
| DM, n | 273 (16.7) | 329 (19.5) | 390 (23.3) | <0.001 | 212 (9.9) | 248 (11.3) | 444 (20.1) | <0.001 |
| ALM, n | 212 (12.9) | 262 (15.5) | 339 (20.3) | <0.001 | 334 (15.6) | 453 (20.6) | 594 (26.9) | <0.001 |
| Alcohol consumption, n | 1131 (69.0) | 1179 (69.8) | 1260 (75.4) | <0.001 | 2002 (93.7) | 2031 (92.4) | 2080 (94.1) | 0.054 |
| BMI, kg/m2 | 23.2 ± 0.07 | 24.4 ± 0.07 | 25.8 ± 0.07 | <0.001 | 22.8 ± 0.06 | 23.7 ± 0.07 | 25.1 ± 0.07 | <0.001 |
| Obesity based on BMI, n | 414 (25.3) | 658 (38.9) | 973 (58.2) | <0.001 | 468 (21.9) | 647 (29.4) | 1042 (47.1) | <0.001 |
| WC, cm | 85.2 ± 0.21 | 88.3 ± 0.19 | 91.6 ± 0.2 | <0.001 | 79.5 ± 0.19 | 81.8 ± 0.19 | 85.3 ± 0.19 | <0.001 |
| Obesity based on WC, n | 468 (28.6) | 672 (39.8) | 957 (57.2) | <0.001 | 556 (26.0) | 756 (34.4) | 1109 (50.2) | <0.001 |
| Insulin, uIU/mL | 6.2 ± 0.1 | 7.7 ± 0.11 | 10.5 ± 0.11 | <0.001 | 6.6 ± 0.09 | 7.5 ± 0.09 | 10.1 ± 0.09 | <0.001 |
| Glc, mg/dL | 104 ± 0.56 | 106.8 ± 0.62 | 111.3 ± 0.63 | <0.001 | 97.1 ± 0.38 | 99.8 ± 0.4 | 107.3 ± 0.4 | <0.001 |
| HOMA-IR | 1.7 ± 0.03 | 2.1 ± 0.03 | 3 ± 0.03 | <0.001 | 1.6 ± 0.03 | 1.9 ± 0.03 | 2.8 ± 0.03 | <0.001 |
| HOMA-β | 60 ± 1.44 | 72 ± 1.23 | 92.5 ± 1.24 | <0.001 | 72.6 ± 1.69 | 78.9 ± 1.51 | 94.7 ± 1.51 | <0.001 |
All data in the KNHANES are presented as mean ± standard error for continuous variables and as frequency and percentage (%) for categorical variables. The ALT/AST ratios were sorted in ascending order and categorized into three groups (T1, T2, and T3) based on tertiles. Abbreviations: KNHANES, Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; HTN, hypertension; DM, diabetes mellitus; ALM, anti-lipidemic medication; BMI, body mass index; WC, waist circumference; Glc, fasting blood glucose; HOMA-IR, Homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance; HOMA-β, HOMA for β cell.