Longitudinal retrospective cohort study to examine liver, cardiovascular and metabolic factors as predictors…

Cohort studyBMJ public health· 2026

Longitudinal retrospective cohort study to examine liver, cardiovascular and metabolic factors as predictors of all-cause mortality in a rural population in South-West Uganda.

Cori Campbell, Joseph O Mugisha, Beatrice Kimono … Robert Newton

CardiologyCohort studyPrognosis

Higher AST:ALT ratio associated with increased hazard of death in this cohort

Longitudinal retrospective cohort study to examine liver, cardiovascular and metabolic factors as predictors of all-cause mortality in a rural population in South-West Uganda.

Cori Campbell … Robert Newton

BMJ public health · 2026

Background

Markers of liver and metabolic disease have not been well described for many populations in Africa, but could be important to inform individual and public health interventions that reduce morbidity and mortality.

Methods

Demographic and laboratory data were collected through the General Population Cohort in South-Western Uganda.

n = 7896 individuals

Results

higher AST:ALT ratio, indicating more alcoholic liver damage, raised death risk

AHR by subgroup · 95% CI

More results

Our dataset includes 7896 individuals, of whom 4441/7896 (56%) were female and 5722/7896 (72%) were aged under 45 years.

Prevalence of hepatitis B virus (hepatitis B virus) was 216/7896 (2.74%; 95% CI 2.38% to 3.10%) and HIV was 582/7896 (7.37%; 95% CI 6.79% to 7.94%).

More results

Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was elevated in 2020/7896 (25.58%; 95% CI 24.62% to 26.55%).

During the period observed, all-cause death was associated with older age (p<0.001), male sex (aHR 1.56, 95% CI 1.30 to 1.86) and HIV infection (aHR 1.67, 95% CI 1.25 to 2.22).

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Conclusion

Simple interventions to prevent, diagnose and treat hypertension, diabetes, alcohol excess, and HIV and hepatitis B virus infection could have an important impact on mortality in this setting.

Longitudinal retrospective cohort study to examine liver, cardiovascular and metabolic factors as predictors of all-cause mortality in a rural population in South-West Uganda.

Longitudinal retrospective cohort study to examine liver, cardiovascular and metabolic factors as predictors of all-cause mortality in a rural population in South-West Uganda.

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