Purpose: To explore any gender-related differences in prevalence of and cardiovascular risk factors related to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) amongst the elderly agricultural and fishing population in Taipei, Taiwan. Methods:The study participants were conducted with a total of 6,511 (3,971 males and 2,540 females) healthy elderly subjects voluntarily admitted to a teaching hospital for a physical check-up in 2010. Blood samples and real-time ultrasound-proved fatty liver sonography results were collected. Results:The prevalence of NAFLD for this elderly study population was found to be 27.2%, the proportion revealing a statistically significant decrease with increasing population age (p<0.001). Females showed a greater prevalence of NAFLD than did males (34.1% vs. 22.7%, p-value forχ 2 -test <0.001). Using multiple logistic regression analysis, in addition to female gender, a younger age, higher ALT, higher BMI, presence of hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, lower HDL, and higher fasting plasma glucose were the significant factors associated with NAFLD. Gender-related differences as regards associated factors were also revealed. For females, hypertension (OR=1.18, 95%CI: 1.00-1.40), and lower HDL (OR=1.31, 95%CI: 1.10-1.56) were significantly related to NAFLD but these were not so for males. Conclusion:Several gender-related differences were noted pertaining to the prevalence of and relationship between hypertension, lower HDL, and NAFLD in this occupational elderly study population.

Purpose: To explore sex variations in the prevalence and factors of high serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level among the working population in Taipei, Taiwan.Methods: This study included 8,351 healthy adults (5,247 men and 3,104 women) who admitted to a teaching hospital voluntarily for a physical examination in 2009. The definitions of occupations include computer and mathematical occupations, architecture and engineering occupations, community and social service occupations, sales and related occupations, office and administrative support occupations, and production occupations. The age distribution of $\leq$ 29 yrs, 30-39 yrs, 40-49 yrs, and $\geq$ 50 yrs were 22.5\%, 36.8\%, 23.5\%, and 17.2\%, respectively. Fasting blood samples were drawn using venipuncture and participants were interviewed with a structured questionnaire.Results: The overall prevalence of high serum ALT level ($\geq $ 40 U/L) was 17.1\%. After stratified the data according to age into four age groups ($\leq$ 29yrs, 30-39 yrs, 40-49 yrs, and $\geq$ 50 yrs) , the men participants revealed a higher prevalence of high serum ALT levels for all age groups than the women participants. Bases on multiple logistic regression models, for the men, the significant factors were associated with high serum ALT level and included age (OR = 0.96, 95\% CI: 0.95-097), BMI [no matter whether overweight (OR = 2.45, 95\% CI: 1.99-3.02) or obese (OR = 4.02, 95\% CI: 3.22-5.03)], hypercholesterolemia (yes vs. no, OR = 1.25, 95\% CI: 1.05-1.48), hypertriglyceridemia (OR = 1.25, 95\% CI: 1.04-1.50), high FPG levels (OR = 1.48, 95\% CI: 1.05-2.09), high AST levels (OR = 26.71, 95\% CI: 19.00-37.54), hyperuricemia (OR = 1.48, 95\% CI: 1.25-1.76), high ALP levels (OR = 1.20, 95\% CI: 1.00-1.45), and high glutamic acid transaminase levels (OR = 4.31, 95\% CI: 3.61-5.14). For the women subjects, the statistically significant factors that were associated with high serum ALT level included BMI [no matter whether overweight (OR = 3.53, 95\% CI: 1.87-6.67) or obese (OR = 4.32, 95\% CI: 2.26-8.23)], high AST levels (yes vs. no, OR = 38.49, 95\% CI: 21.45-49.28), high BUN levels (yes vs. no, OR = 1.66, 95\% CI: 1.03-2.29), and high glutamic acid transaminase levels (yes vs. no, OR = 9.87, 95\% CI: 5.79-16.83).Conclusion: In conclusion, the clinical problem of elevated serum ALT level is important in the working population. Many subjects are asymptomatic and the diagnosis of high serum ALT level should be considered with sex, age, hyperuricemia, high AST levels, high ALP levels, high glutamic acid transaminase levels, and metabolic risk factors in mind.