Table 3.

 Distribution of selected covariates according to alanine aminotransferase (ALT) flare, defined as a maximum value of ⩾400 IU/l or a maximum/minimum ALT ratio value of ⩾8

Covariates	ALT flare (+):ALT flare (−)	OR* (95% CI)
Age (y)
<45	10:47	1†
45–49	9:31	1.34 (0.42–4.28)
50–54	8:36	1.45 (0.44–4.75)
⩾55	12:53	1.31 (0.43–3.99)
Sex
Males	26:94	1†
Females	13:73	0.59 (0.24–1.44)
Modality of infection
Community acquired	29:129	1†
Parenteral	10:38	1.20 (0.40–3.62)
Duration of hepatitis (y)
<10	18:79	1†
10–19	7:35	1.00 (0.33–3.06)
⩾20	14:53	1.22 (0.42–3.54)
Basal value of ALT‡
<80	15:52	1†
80–129	7:53	0.57 (0.17–1.89)
⩾130	17:62	1.77 (0.61-5.12)
Histology grading of baseline biopsy§
<8	19:84	1†
8–10	12:51	1.79 (0.62–5.11)
⩾11	3:18	0.84 (0.18–3.87)
Missing	5:14	–
Histology staging of baseline biopsy
<3	25:75	1†
3/4	5:32	0.34 (0.10–1.19)
⩾5	4:46	0.23 (0.06–0.88)
Missing	5:14	–

Odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI).

*Estimates from multiple logistic regression equations, including terms for age, sex, duration of hepatitis C virus, liver histology staging, modality of infection, basal values of ALT, number of observations, and genotype.

†Reference category.

‡Mean of the first three values.

§Not adjusted by liver histology staging.