Characteristics of Drug-Induced Liver Injury in Northeast China: Disease Spectrum and Drug Types

The aim of this study was to determine the disease spectrum and drug types causing drug-induced liver injury (DILI) in northeast China, so that the affected population can be reminded of the need to increase their post-medication monitoring.A total of 470 DILI patients hospitalized at Shengjing Hospital between 2013 and 2016 were involved in this retrospective study.There were significant differences in the disease spectrum of the different age groups (P 0.001) and genders (P = 0.009). Drugs used to treat osteopathies, dermatitis and infections, as well as health care supplements, each accounted for 10% of all drugs that caused DILI. The percentage of DILIs related to Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) gradually increased with patient age (P = 0.002). The percentage of males taking health supplements or CHMs was significantly lower compared with females. Total bilirubin (β = 0.01, OR = 1.01, P 0.001) and INR (β = 0.74, OR = 2.11, P 0.001) were found to be independent predictors of liver damage.The main type of drug that causes DILI in northeast China is a CHM. There are differences in the disease spectrum found in DILI patients of different ages and gender. Making appropriate changes in the drug-taking habits of high-risk groups and the drugs used to treat high-risk underlying diseases, as well as increasing patient monitoring, may help to reduce the incidence of DILIs.