Prevalence and characteristics of metabolic hyperferritinemia in a population-based Central-European cohort

Background  Hyperferritinemia (HF) is a common laboratory finding and considered as metabolic HF (MHF) if observed in combination with metabolic diseases like type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity or fatty liver disease. The definition of the term metabolic HF has been heterogenous, until a consensus statement on the classification and grading of MHF has been published recently. The aim of this study was to apply the definition of MHF in order to provide data on the prevalence and characteristics of MHF in a Central-European cohort.

Material and Methods  This analysis included 6424 participants of the Paracelsus 10.000 study, which is a population-based cohort study including approximately 10.000 randomly selected subjects aged 40-77 from the region of Salzburg, Austria. Participants with HF were divided into three categories according to their level of serum ferritin and were further evaluated for associated metabolic co-morbidities defining the proposed criteria for MHF.

Results  HF was present in 13% (n  = 857) of the general population with a clear male preponderance (n  = 590, 69% of HF). Within the HF group, 84% (n  = 719) subjects fulfilled the metabolic criteria and may therefore be defined as MHF, of which 63% (n  = 540) were characterized by a major criterion. In the remaining HF cohort, 56% (n  = 179 of 317) were classified as MHF after application of the minor criteria. The prevalence of metabolic co-morbidities was higher in HF subjects and increased along the different grades of HF.

Conclusion  HF is a common finding in the general middle-aged population with approximately 1 in 8 subjects affected. The majority of these is classified as MHF making it by far the most common cause of elevated SF concentrations. The new classification provides useful criteria for defining MHF.

 

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Artikel online veröffentlicht:
24. Mai 2023