• Shih Wei Lai, Ching Yi Huang, Hsueh Chou Lai, Kuan Fu Liao, Yen Miao Lai, Chiu Shong Liu, and Tsann Lin.
• Department of Family Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung City, Taiwan.
• Ann Acad Med Singap. 2010 Jan 1; 39 (1): 9-12.

IntroductionThe objective of this study was to explore the association between thrombocytopenia and its related factors.Materials And MethodsThis was a hospital-based, cross-sectional study. We retrospectively analysed the medical records of all patients who received periodic health examinations at a medical centre located at Taichung in Taiwan between 2000 and 2004. In all, 5585 subjects were included for further analysis. A complete physical examination, laboratory survey and abdominal ultrasonography were performed on each subject. The t-test, chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used.ResultsThe subjects consisted of 3123 men (55.9%) and 2462 women (44.1%). The mean age was 49.4 +/- 12.3 years (range, 20 to 87). The overall prevalence of thrombocytopenia was found to be 0.5%, higher in men than in women (0.6% vs 0.4%, P = 0.504). After controlling for the other covariates, multivariate logistic regression analysis exhibited that the factors significantly related to thrombocytopenia were increasing age (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.004-1.08), anti-HCV positive (OR, 5.24; 95% CI, 2.08-13.20), liver cirrhosis (OR, 7.93; 95% CI, 2.28-27.62), and splenomegaly (OR, 18.86; 95% CI, 6.86-51.87).ConclusionIt is advisable to further check the hepatic status, if thrombocytopenia is noted.

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