Autoimmune hepatitis is a chronic liver disease caused by a dysfunctional immune system. It is assumed that autoimmune hepatitis develops in individuals with certain genes subjected to unknown risk factors. For other diseases caused by a dysfunctional immune system, smoking is a known risk factor, but for autoimmune hepatitis it has never been studied. The UK Clinical Practice Research Database provides a unique opportunity to conduct a study on the issue. The aim of the study is to evaluate the association between smoking and the risk of autoimmune hepatitis in England. This is important to potentially provide new insight in the development of autoimmune hepatitis.
Using data from the Clinical Practice Research Database and linked Hospital Episode Statistics, the objective of the study is to conduct a matched case-control analysis evaluating the association between smoking and the risk of autoimmune hepatitis. Individuals with a first-time diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis 1997-2017 will be included as cases, and matched individuals without autoimmune hepatitis will be included as controls. Cases and controls will be classified as 'smokers' or 'non-smokers'. The odds ratio will be calculated with 95% confidence intervals for the association between autoimmune hepatitis and smoking using logistic regression. Analyses will be adjusted for potential confounding from age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
Odds ratio of developing autoimmune hepatitis for smokers vs. non-smokers.
Joe West - Chief Investigator - University of Nottingham
Lisbet Gronbaek - Corresponding Applicant - Aarhus University Hospital
Colin Crooks - Collaborator - University of Nottingham
Harmony Otete - Collaborator - University Of Central Lancashire
Peter Jepsen - Collaborator - Aarhus University Hospital
Timothy Card - Collaborator - University of Nottingham
HES Admitted Patient Care;HES Outpatient;Patient Level Index of Multiple Deprivation;Practice Level Index of Multiple Deprivation