Blood mercury concentrations are associated with decline in liver function in an elderly population: a panel study

Table 3 Odds ratios of liver function tests to total blood mercury using GEE model

Mercury	AST		ALT		GGT
Mercury	OR	95% CI	OR	95% CI	OR	95% CI
Abnormal liver test
Q1	Ref		Ref		Ref
Q2	1.30	0.41–4.11	2.01	0.83–4.90	1.34	0.86–2.07
Q3	1.68	0.49–5.76	2.05	0.77–5.43	1.02	0.62–1.67
Q4	2.70	0.95–7.68	3.10	1.17–8.24	1.29	0.79–2.13

Covariates: sex, age, smoking status, drinking status, exercise, education, high-density lipoproteins cholesterol, overweight, calorie
Abbreviations: ALT Alanine transaminase, AST aspartate aminotransferase, CI confidence interval, GEE generalized estimating equations, GGT Gamma-glutamyl transferase, Q quartile: 1^st Q (<2.50 for men, <1.86 for women), 2^nd Q (2.50 ≤ and <3.77 for men, 1.86 ≤ and <2.59 for women), 3^rd Q (3.77 ≤ and <5.41 for men, 2.59 ≤ and <3.53 for women), 4^th Q (≥5.41 for men, ≥3.53 for women), OR odds ratio

ISSN: 1476-069X