Correlation of liver stiffness measured by Fibro Scan with sex and age in healthy adults undergoing physical examination

Objective To determine the reference range of liver stiffness in healthy population,and to investigate the influence of age and sex on liver stiffness. Methods A total of 1794 healthy subjects who underwent physical examination in China National Petroleum Corporation Central Hospital from October 1,2012 to October 31,2014 were enrolled,and Fibro Scan was used to perform liver stiffness measurement( LSM). Since LSM value was not normally distributed,the Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to compare LSM value between male and female patients,the Kruskal- Wallis test was used to compare LSM value between different age groups,and the Spearman's rank correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between LSM value and age. The one- sided percentile method was used to determine the range of normal reference values in male and female subjects or in different age groups. Results LSM was successfully performed in 1590 patients,and the rate of successful measurement was 88. 63%. A total of 107 patients were excluded due to abnormal liver enzymes. The analysis showed that LSM value showed a significant difference between male and female subjects( Z =- 4. 980,P < 0. 001),as well as between different age groups( χ~2= 16. 983,P = 0. 001). Age was positively correlated with LSM value( r = 0. 087,P = 0. 001). The reference range was estimated to be ≤7. 1 k Pa in adults,≤7. 0 k Pa in females,and ≤7. 2 k Pa in males. From the perspective of age,the reference range was estimated to be ≤6. 8 k Pa in persons aged 20- 29 years,≤6. 7 k Pa in persons aged 30- 44 years,≤7. 8 k Pa in persons aged 45- 59 years,and ≤8. 8 k Pa in persons aged 60- 74 years. Conclusion Liver stiffness value is influenced by sex and age. Sex and age should be taken into account while performing liver stiffness measurement in healthy subjects.