Population-based cohort study investigating the association between weight loss and pyogenic liver abscesses.

Shih-Wei Lai,Kuan-Fu Liao,Cheng-Li Lin

doi:10.1051/bmdcn/2017070426

Abstract

Background and Aim: Few systematic studies focus on the association between weight loss and pyogenic liver abscesses. The objective of the study was to assess the association between weight loss and pyogenic liver abscesses in adults in Taiwan.Methods: This population-based cohort study utilized the database of the Taiwan National Health Insurance Program. Totally, 8453 subjects aged 20 to 84 years with newly diagnosed weight loss between 2000 and 2012 were assigned as the weight loss group, and 33777 randomly selected subjects without weight loss were assigned as the non-weight loss group. Both the weight loss and the non-weight loss groups were matched according to sex, age, and comorbidities. The incidence of pyogenic liver abscesses at the end of 2013 was measured in both groups.Results: A multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model was done and presented evidence that the adjusted HR of pyogenic liver abscess was 2.47 (95 %CI 1.21, 5.02) for those subjects with weight loss and without comorbidities, as compared with those subjects without weight loss and without comorbidities. Among the weight loss group, 5% developed pyogenic liver abscesses within 3 months.Conclusion: Weight loss is associated with pyogenic liver abscesses in adults. Yet weight loss might not be an early clinical symptom of undiagnosed pyogenic liver abscesses.

Highlights

A pyogenic liver abscess is a liver infection which is caused by a broad range of microorganisms
The proportions of alcohol-related disease, biliary stone, chronic kidney disease, chronic liver disease, and diabetes mellitus were distributed in the weight loss group and the non-weight loss group (Chi-square test, P > 0.05 for all)
Weight loss is associated with pyogenic liver abscesses in adults in Taiwan

Summary

Introduction

A pyogenic liver abscess is a liver infection which is caused by a broad range of microorganisms. Pyogenic liver abscesses are major public health concern due to their significant morbidity and mortality. [3,4,5,6,7,8] The previous caseseries studies have shown that the most common presenting symptoms of pyogenic liver abscesses are fever and right upper quadrant pain. If a well-designed study could establish that weight loss might be an early clinical symptom of an undiagnosed pyogenic liver abscess, clinicians could consider the possibility of a pyogenic liver abscess when a patient presents with weight loss accompanied by fever and right upper quadrant pain. We conducted a population-based cohort study to investigate the association between weight loss and pyogenic liver abscesses in adults in Taiwan. The objective of the study was to assess the association between weight loss and pyogenic liver abscesses in adults in Taiwan. Weight loss might not be an early clinical symptom of undiagnosed pyogenic liver abscesses

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Discussion

Conclusion