Correlation between Age and Prognosis in Infectious Hepatitis

Statistical Analyses of 250 cases

Abstract

Statistical analyses have been made on the relation of patient's age with various liver function tests done within 10 days after the onset of symptoms, time required for normalization of liver function tests and death rate in 250 cases of acute infectious hepatitis, admitted to our department and hospitals affiliated to our department. The following results have been obtained:
1. Among various liver function tests at the onset, serum transaminase level and the patient's age exhibited some correlation of statistical significance. There was also a correlation between the age and the concentration in percentage of serum γ-globulin.
2. The number of days required for the normalization of liver function tests, such as serum bilirubin, GPT and BSP test, was directly proportional to the patient's age, and the correlation was highly significant in the case of BSP.
3. A significant difference in death rate was noted between the group below 60 years of age and the one over 60; it was 1.3% in the former and 20.8% in the latter. The time for normalization of liver function tests was prolonged in the group over 60 years of age in comparison with the one below 60, but the difference was insignificant. No difference was noted between males and females with respect to liver functions at the onset or the time for their normalization.