Increase in Proportion of Young Men with High Liver Enzymes... Impact of Metabolic Diseases Such as Obesity and Hypertension

Samsung Seoul Hospital Professor Donghyun Shin and Clinical Instructor Byungkeun Song Research Team
Analysis of Military Manpower Administration Conscription Examination Big Data... Decrease in Hepatitis B
"Time to Change Liver Disease Prevention Methods"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] A study has found that the proportion of young men with elevated liver enzyme levels is increasing, and the related causes are also changing. Since high liver enzyme levels increase the risk of liver disease and liver-related death compared to normal levels, active management is required.

The research team led by Clinical Instructor Song Byung-geun and Professor Shin Dong-hyun from the Department of Gastroenterology at Samsung Seoul Hospital analyzed the examination records of 5,355,941 individuals accumulated through the Military Manpower Administration's conscription examinations between 2003 and 2019, revealing these findings on the 27th.

According to the research team, among those born in 1986, 13.2% had liver enzyme levels exceeding the normal range (34 or below), whereas among those born in 2000 who were tested in 2019, this proportion increased to 16.5%. Among those with elevated liver enzyme levels, 80.8% were overweight or obese, and metabolic diseases such as hypertension also increased.

The prevalence of hepatitis B decreased significantly from 3.19% in men born in 1984 to 0.18% in those born in 2000. The research team stated, “The finding that the 'hepatitis B surface antigen positivity rate' was 0.18% in results conducted on all young men indicates that national hepatitis B management policies, such as the 'nationwide hepatitis B vaccination program,' have achieved great success in Korea,” and evaluated that “the burden of liver disease related to hepatitis B in the younger age group will greatly decrease.”

However, despite the significant reduction in hepatitis B prevalence, the increase in individuals with elevated liver enzyme levels and the rise in metabolic diseases such as obesity and hypertension are concerning, the research team added. Professor Shin Dong-hyun said, “Thanks to national attention, concerns about hepatitis B have lessened, but elevated liver enzyme levels, obesity, and hypertension have increased among young adults,” emphasizing, “If the increase in these metabolic diseases is not managed with a new perspective from a public health policy standpoint, it could become a significant social burden in the future. Attention and management are necessary.”

This study was published in the recent issue of the Journal of the Korean Internal Medicine Society.