Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35318741›Full record

ArticleJournal of clinical laboratory analysis2022

Elevated AST/ALT ratio is associated with all-cause mortality and cancer incident.

Wangyang Chen, Weibo Wang, Lingling Zhou, Jun Zhou, Lianping He, Jiayi Li, Xinyue Xu, Jixi Wang, Liangyou Wang

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of clinical laboratory analysis, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 37 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
37citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
10.0field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

37 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 65 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Wangyang ChenSchool of Medicine, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
Weibo WangDepartment of General Practice, BaiYun Community Health Service Center, Taizhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
Lingling ZhouSchool of Medicine, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
Jun ZhouSchool of Medicine, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
Lianping HeSchool of Medicine, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
Jiayi LiDepartment of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, China.
Xinyue XuDepartment of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, China.
Jixi WangDepartment of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4959-0449
Liangyou WangDepartment of Non-Communicable Chronic Disease Control and Prevention, Taizhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Taizhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
Taizhou University · CNJiaxing University · CNZhejiang Center for Disease Control and Prevention · CN

Funding

Scientific Research Project of Taizhou Municipal Science and Technology Bureau 1902ky84
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe aspartate transaminase (AST)-to-alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio, which is used to measure liver injury, has been found to be associated with some chronic diseases and mortality. However, its relevance to cancer incidence resulting from population-based prospective studies has rarely been reported. In this study, we investigated the correlation of the AST/ALT ratio as a possible predictor of mortality and cancer incidence.

methodsA total of 9,946 participants fulfilled the inclusion criteria for a basic public health service project of the Health Checkup Program conducted by the BaiYun Community Health Service Center, Taizhou. Deceased participants and cancer incident cases were from The Taizhou Chronic Disease Information Management System. Odds ratios (ORs) and interval of quartile range (IQR) computed by logistic regression analysis and cumulative incidence rate were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier survival method and compared with log-rank test statistics.

resultsSerum ALT and AST levels were both increased in patients with chronic diseases, but the ratio of AST/ALT was generally decreased. The cancer incident cases (488 new cases) had a greater baseline ratio (median =1.23, IQR: 0.96-1.54) than noncancer cases (median =1.15, IQR: 0.91-1.44). Compared to the first quartile of the AST/ALT ratio, the population in the top quartile had a higher cumulative cancer incidence rate (7.54% vs. 4.44%) during follow-up period. Furthermore, an elevated AST/ALT ratio increased the risk of all-cause mortality.

conclusionsThe ratio of AST/ALT is a potential biomarker to assess healthy conditions and long-term mortality. Especially for cancer, the AST/ALT ratio not only increases at baseline but also predicts the future development of cancer. The clinical value and potential mechanism deserve further research.

Indexed as

Liver DiseasesNeoplasmsAlanine TransaminaseAspartate AminotransferasesHumansProspective StudiesAlanine TransaminaseAspartate AminotransferasesaminotransferaseAST/ALT ratiocancerchronic diseasemortality

Identifiers

PMID35318741
PMCPMC9102513
OpenAlexW4220743813

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.