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Sunday, October 16, 2011

Prevalence of Alcoholic Liver Disease Among Korean Adults: Results From the Fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2009



Alcohol consumption continues to be a common cause of acute and chronic liver disease.

Data from a representative sample of 7,893 adults in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009 were analyzed. Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) was defined through heavy alcohol consumption (≥40 g/day for men or ≥20 g/day for women) and through elevated liver tests.

Approximately 6.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.0–7.4) was at heavy alcohol consumption. Of these “heavy alcohol consumers,” one quarter also had ALD. The prevalence of ALD was 1.7% (95% CI, 1.3–2.1).

ALD is still a burden in the Korean population.




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Rerquest Reprint E-Mail: djkim@hallym.ac.kr