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Gamma glutamyltransferase and long-term survival: is it just the liver?

Lili Kazemi-Shirazi1, Georg Endler, Stefan Winkler

  • 1Institute of Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnostics, Department of Internal Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

Clinical Chemistry
|March 27, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Elevated gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT) levels are linked to increased all-cause mortality in both men and women, particularly in younger individuals. Even high-normal GGT indicates a significant risk for death.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Clinical Medicine
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Elevated gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT) is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
  • Limited large-scale studies have explored the association between GGT and all-cause mortality.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between GGT levels and the risk of all-cause mortality.
  • To determine if GGT is a predictor of mortality across different age groups.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort study of 283,438 hospital patients with GGT analysis was conducted.
  • Patients were monitored for up to 13 years.
  • Cox proportional hazards models, adjusted for age and sex, were used to evaluate GGT as a predictor.

Main Results:

  • GGT levels above reference ranges were significantly associated with all-cause, cancer, hepatobiliary, and vascular mortality in both sexes (P <0.001).
  • Hazard ratios for mortality were similar between men and women.
  • Younger patients (<30 years) with elevated GGT exhibited higher all-cause mortality rates compared to older individuals.

Conclusions:

  • Gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT) is a significant predictor of mortality in both men and women.
  • Elevated GGT, even within high-normal ranges, is a risk factor for all-cause mortality.
  • The association between GGT and mortality is particularly pronounced in younger individuals (<30 years).
Abstract

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