Clinical chemistry reference intervals of healthy adult populations in Gojjam Zones of Amhara National Regional State, Northwest Ethiopia.

Reference interval is crucial for disease screening, diagnosis, monitoring, progression and treatment efficacy. Due to lack of locally derived reference values for the parameters, clinicians use reference intervals derived from western population. But, studies conducted in different African countries have indicated differences between locally and western derived reference values. Different studies also indicated considerable variation in clinical chemistry reference intervals by several variables such as age, sex, geographical location, environment, lifestyle and genetic variation.This study aimed to determine the reference intervals of common clinical chemistry parameters of the community of Gojjam Zones, Northwest Ethiopia.Population based cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2015 to December 2016 in healthy adult populations of Gojjam zone. Data such as, medical history, physical examination and socio-demographic data were collected. In addition, laboratory investigations were undertaken to screen the population. Clinical chemistry parameters were measured using Mindray BS 200 clinical chemistry autoanalyzer as per the manufacturer's instructions. Descriptive statistics was used to calculate mean, median and 95th percentiles. Independent sample T-test and one way ANOVA were used to see association between variables.After careful screening of a total of 799 apparently healthy adults who were consented for this study, complete data from 446 (224 females and 222 males) were included for the analysis. The mean age of both the study participants was 28.8 years. Males had high (P0.05). Mean, median, 95% percentile values of AST, ALP, amylase, LDH, creatinine, total protein, total bilirubin, and direct bilirubin across all age groups of participants were similar (P>0.05). But, there was a significant difference in the value of ALT (P1500 ETB compared to those with low monthly income. Significant (P<0.05) higher values of the ALT, ALP and total protein were observed in people living in high land compared to low land residences.The study showed that some of the common clinical chemistry parameters reference intervals of healthy adults in Gojjam zones were higher than the reference intervals generated from developed countries. Therefore, strict adherence to the reference values generated in developed countries could lead to inappropriate diagnosis and treatment of patients. There was also variation of reference interval values based on climate, gender, age, monthly income and geographical locations. Therefore, further study is required to establish reference intervals for Ethiopian population

Map of the study population area.

<p>Map of the study population area.</p

Demographic characteristics of study participants.

<p>Demographic characteristics of study participants.</p

Mean, median, 95% CI for mean and 2.5^th-97.5^th percentile of clinical chemistry reference values in relation to educational status of healthy adults in Gojjam, Zones, Amahra National Regional State, Northwest Ethiopia.

<p>Mean, median, 95% CI for mean and 2.5^th-97.5^th percentile of clinical chemistry reference values in relation to educational status of healthy adults in Gojjam, Zones, Amahra National Regional State, Northwest Ethiopia.</p

Demographic characteristics of study participants.

<p>Demographic characteristics of study participants.</p

Comparison of reference range values of clinical chemistry parameters of the present study with other studies in African and western countries.

<p>Comparison of reference range values of clinical chemistry parameters of the present study with other studies in African and western countries.</p

Mean, median, 95% CI for mean and 2.5^th-97.5^th percentile of clinical chemistry reference values in relation to monthly income of healthy adults in adults in Gojjam, Zones, Amahra National Regional State, Northwest Ethiopia.

<p>Mean, median, 95% CI for mean and 2.5^th-97.5^th percentile of clinical chemistry reference values in relation to monthly income of healthy adults in adults in Gojjam, Zones, Amahra National Regional State, Northwest Ethiopia.</p

Mean, median, 95% CI for mean and 2.5^th-97.5^th percentile of clinical chemistry reference values in relation to climate of healthy adults in Gojjam, Zones, Amahra National Regional State, Northwest Ethiopia.

<p>Mean, median, 95% CI for mean and 2.5^th-97.5^th percentile of clinical chemistry reference values in relation to climate of healthy adults in Gojjam, Zones, Amahra National Regional State, Northwest Ethiopia.</p