Uncovering unsuspected advanced liver fibrosis in patients referred to alcohol nurse specialists using the ELF test

Table 2 Factors associated with advanced fibrosis (ELF ≥ 10.5), as determined by univariable and multivariable regression analyses

Variable	B (unstandardized regression coefficient)	Univariable OR (95% CI)	p value	Multivariable OR (95% CI)	p value
Age^a	0.018	1.018 (0.987–1.050)	0.264	1.010 (0.972–1.049)	0.609
Sex (male)	0.054	1.055 (0.412–2.699)	0.911
BMI	− 0.007	0.993 (0.891–1.107)	0.900
Current alcohol intake (U/Wk)	− 0.005	0.995 (0.991–1.000)	0.041	0.995 (0.990–1.000)	0.070
Duration of alcohol excess	0.009	1.009 (0.975–1.044)	0.613
Deprivation score	0.000	1 (1–1)	0.323
Smoking (non-smoker)	− 0.631	0.532 (0.170–1.667)	0.279
Abnormal LFTs at referral^d	0.182	1.20 (0.455–3.162)	0.712
ALP	0.006	1.006 (0.999–1.012)	0.099	1.004 (0.998–1.011)	0.190
ALT	0.002	1.002 (0.995–1.010)	0.574
MCV^b	0.005	1.005 (0.950–1.063)	0.856	0.971 (0.908–1.039)	0.399
Platelet count	0.000	1.000 (0.996–1.003)	0.786
Bilirubin	0.025	1.026 (0.988–1.065)	0.187	0.999 (0.953–1.047)	0.966
AST^c	0.003	1.003 (0.998–1.008)	0.215
FIB4^c	0.076	1.079 (0.996–1.169)	0.063
AST/ALT ratio	0.733	2.081 (1.145–3.779)	0.016	1.984 (1.014–3.884)	0.046
APRI^c	0.082	1.085 (0.997–1.182)	0.059

BMI = Body Mass Index, U/w = units per week, CLD = Chronic Liver Disease, T2DM = Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, ALT = Alanine aminotranferase, AST = Aspartate aminotransferase, MCV = Mean Corpuscular Volume, APRI = AST to platelet ratio index, ALP = Alkaline Phosphatase, OR = Odds Ratio
^aAlthough p value for age was above 0.25 in univariable logistic regression, it was < 0.05 in correlation analysis with continuous ELF score, and is of clinical importance to investigate-so was included in this multivariable model
^bAlthough p value for MCV was above 0.25 in univariable logistic regression, it was < 0.05 in correlation analysis with continuous ELF score, and so was included in this multivariable model
^cLeft out of multivariable analysis as would be affected by multi-collinearity with AST:ALT ratio, which was more highly significant in the univariate analysis
^dAbnormal LFTs defined as raised transaminases or ALP + GGT. (Not including isolated hyperbilirubinaemia (Gilbert’s))

ISSN: 1471-230X