Dataset Information

Association of gamma-glutamyltransferase levels with total mortality, liver-related and cardiovascular outcomes: A prospective cohort study in the UK Biobank.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) levels in the blood can be a sensitive marker of liver injury but the extent to which they give insight into risk across multiple outcomes in a clinically useful way remains uncertain.

Methods

Using data from 293,667 UK Biobank participants, the relationship of GGT concentrations to self-reported alcohol intake and adiposity markers were investigated. We next investigated whether GGT predicted liver-related, cardiovascular (CV) or all-cause mortality, and potentially improved CV risk prediction.

Findings

Higher alcohol intake and greater waist circumference (WC) were associated with higher GGT; the association was stronger for alcohol with evidence of a synergistic effect of WC. Higher GGT concentrations were associated with multiple outcomes. Compared to a GGT of 14.5 U/L (lowest decile), values of 48 U/L for women and 60 U/L for men (common upper limits of 'normal') had hazard ratios (HRs) for liver-related mortality of 1.83 (95% CI 1.60-2.11) and 3.25 (95% CI 2.38-4.42) respectively, for CV mortality of 1.21 (95% CI 1.14-1.28) and 1.43 (95% CI 1.27-1.60) and for all-cause mortality of 1.15 (95% CI 1.12-1.18) and 1.31 (95% CI 1.24-1.38). Adding GGT to a risk algorithm for CV mortality reclassified an additional 1.24% (95% CI 0.14-2.34) of participants across a binary 5% 10-year risk threshold.

Interpretation

Our study suggests that a modest elevation in GGT levels should trigger a discussion with the individual to review diet and lifestyle including alcohol intake and consideration of formal liver disease and CV risk assessment if not previously done.

Funding

British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence Grant (grant number RE/18/6/34217), NHS Research Scotland (grant number SCAF/15/02), the Medical Research Council (grant number MC_UU_00022/2); and the Scottish Government Chief Scientist Office (grant number SPHSU17).

SUBMITTER: Ho FK

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9112033 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Association of gamma-glutamyltransferase levels with total mortality, liver-related and cardiovascular outcomes: A prospective cohort study in the UK Biobank.

Ho Frederick K FK Ferguson Lyn D LD Celis-Morales Carlos A CA Gray Stuart R SR Forrest Ewan E Alazawi William W Gill Jason Mr JM Katikireddi Srinivasa Vittal SV Cleland John Gf JG Welsh Paul P Pell Jill P JP Sattar Naveed N

EClinicalMedicine 20220512

<h4>Background</h4>Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) levels in the blood can be a sensitive marker of liver injury but the extent to which they give insight into risk across multiple outcomes in a clinically useful way remains uncertain.<h4>Methods</h4>Using data from 293,667 UK Biobank participants, the relationship of GGT concentrations to self-reported alcohol intake and adiposity markers were investigated. We next investigated whether GGT predicted liver-related, cardiovascular (CV) or all-cau ...[more]

PMID: 35706481

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Dataset Information

Association of gamma-glutamyltransferase levels with total mortality, liver-related and cardiovascular outcomes: A prospective cohort study in the UK Biobank.

Background

Methods

Findings

Interpretation

Funding

Publications

Association of gamma-glutamyltransferase levels with total mortality, liver-related and cardiovascular outcomes: A prospective cohort study in the UK Biobank.

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