Table 4.
Predictors of Serum ALT (U/L) Activities in a Multivariable Regression Modela, Hepatitis B Research Network Study, North America, 2011–2013
| Covariate | Estimate | 95% CI | P Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sex, male vs. female | 1.61 | 1.37, 1.89 | <0.001 |
| Age, per 5-year increase | 0.95 | 0.93, 0.98 | 0.002 |
| HBV DNA, IU/mL | |||
| 1,000–9,999 vs. <1,000 | 1.03 | 0.85, 1.23 | 0.779 |
| 10,000–99,999 vs. <1,000 | 1.05 | 0.78, 1.40 | 0.761 |
| 100,000–9,999,999 vs. <1,000 | 2.46 | 1.60, 3.80 | <0.001 |
| ≥10,000,000 vs. <1,000 | 3.12 | 2.24, 4.33 | <0.001 |
| Birthplace, East Africa vs. all otherb | 0.84 | 0.71, 1.00 | 0.046 |
Abbreviations: ALT, alanine aminotransferase; CI, confidence interval; HBV, hepatitis B virus.
a The predictors’ effects on ALT activities corresponded to multiplicative effects. For example, the median ALT among men was 1.61 times that of women, and each 5-year increase in age was associated with 0.95 times (i.e., −5%) change in median ALT when holding other factors constant.
b West Africa, the United States, and other non-African regions were combined based on preliminary regression results.