非酒精性脂肪性肝病与代谢综合征的相关性研究

目的分析非酒精性脂肪性肝病（NAFLD）与代谢综合征（MS）的关系。方法10357例在我院体检的普通人群入选本研究,检测人体学参数、生化指标及肝脏彩超,分析该人群NAFLD和MS的患病率,探讨MS组分与NAFLD的关系。结果10357例体检者中NAFLD的患病率为31．1％,MS患病率为23．6％,NAFLD合并MS患病率为15．5％。经年龄标化后NAFLD和MS患病率男性仍明显高于女性。将全部受试者按BM1分组后,各组间NAFLD、MS及NAFLD合并MS患病率差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。选择同期体检无NAFLD的个体（非NAFLD组）,经性别、年龄、BMI与NAFLD组相匹配后,NAFLD组MS患病率明显高于非NAFLD组（59．8％VS5．2％,P〈0．01）。多因素Logistic回归分析表明：NAFI。D危险因素的前五位为TG、BMI、FPG、LDL-C和吸烟。结论即使排除BMI因素的影响,NAFLD患者MS的患病率仍然明显增高。NAFLD危险因素由高到低依次为TG、BMI、FPG、LDL-C、吸烟、TC、性别、血压、SUA及ALT。HDL-C为NAFLD保护性因素。     

海口地区体检人群非酒精性脂肪性肝病患病率调查分析

目的了解海口地区非酒精性脂肪性肝病(NAFLD)的流行现状,分析NAFLD与代谢综合征及其相关组分的关系。方法选取2016年9月-2017年8月在海口市人民医院进行健康体检者18 771例,测量身高、体质量、血压、空腹血糖、血脂、肝功能等指标,行肝脏B超检查。计算NAFLD的患病率,分析NAFLD与代谢综合征及其相关组分的关系。计量资料2组间比较采用t检验;计数资料组间比较采用χ2检验。结果 18771例体检对象中NAFLD 5715例,患病率为30.45%;男性NAFLD患病率为41.74%,女性NAFLD患病率为17.22%。男性NAFLD患病高峰年龄为45~59岁,女性NAFLD患病高峰年龄为45岁及以上。男性中度NAFLD患病率高于女性(8.10%vs 1.19%,χ2=476.1,P0.001)。男性人群中肥胖、超重者的NAFLD患病率较高,女性人群中肥胖者NAFLD患病率较高,男性和女性中不同BMI水平组的NAFLD患病率差异均有统计学意义(χ2值分别为2111、1917,P值均0.001)。NAFLD患者BMI、血压、FPG、TG、ALT、AST、GGT明显高于非NAFLD者,而HDL明显降低,差异均有统计学意义(t值分别为41.276、32.339、31.487、12.185、9.716、38.382、26.350、25.291、15.008,P值均0.001)。结论海口地区体检人群NAFLD患病率较高,男性患病率高于女性;NAFLD代谢综合征及其相关组分关系密切。     

非酒精性脂肪性肝病与代谢综合征的流行现状及相关性研究

目的了解普通人群中非酒精性脂肪性肝病（NAFLD）及代谢综合征（MS）的患病率,探讨MS与NAFLD发生的关系。方法选择我院体检的普通人群共2374例,B超检查诊断脂肪肝,检测腰围、体重指数（BMI）、血压、丙氨酸氨基转氨酶、尿酸、血脂、空腹血糖（FBG）等指标,分析NAFLD和MS的患病率及MS相关组分与NAFLD的关系。结果共502人诊断为NAFLD,NAFLD患病率21．15％,男性高于女性。NAFLD组代谢综合征患病率50．4％,较对照组明显升高（P=0．001）。Logistic回归分析结果显示,NAFLD危险因素前三位分别是甘油三脂、FBG、BMI。结论普通人群中NAFLD的患病率呈上升趋势,NAFLD患者代谢综合征的患病率明显升高。     

北京市老年人代谢综合征与心脑血管病的关系及其性别差异和随龄变化

目的分析北京市老年人代谢综合征与心脑血管病的关系及性别差异和随龄变化。方法于2000年对一个流行病学队列研究人群1827名老年人进行身高、体重测量及血压和多项血液代谢指标的检查,应用中国标准诊断代谢综合征,同时进行人口学因素及心脑血管病的调查。结果1827名老年人平均年龄（71±7）岁,患代谢综合征372人,占20.4%。女性高于男性。随着年龄增大,代谢综合征患病率下降显著。代谢综合征诸成分中,高血压患病率63.2%,空腹血糖异常患病率23.5%,超重及肥胖患病率34.2%,高甘油三酯血症患病率29.8%,低高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL-C）血症患病率3.7%,均为女性高于男性,糖尿病患病率13.7%,男女性别之间无统计学差异。随着年龄增长,收缩压水平、HDL-C水平逐渐增高,而舒张压、体重指数、空腹血糖、甘油三酯水平逐渐降低。代谢综合征老年人冠心病和脑卒中患病率均显著高于非代谢综合征老年人。这种趋势在低龄老年人中存在,而80岁及以上老年人中则无明显差别。男性代谢综合征冠心病患病和女性代谢综合征脑卒中患病均显著高于非代谢综合征老年人。结论老年人中代谢综合征患病率高,患代谢综合征的老年人心脑血管病患病率增高,在不同性别及年龄之间存在差异。     

老年非酒精性脂肪肝的危险因素及增龄变化

目的评估老年人非酒精性脂肪肝(NAFLD)的危险因素及增龄变化。方法选择406例查体老年人,详细询问病史、查体,并行实验室化验检查及腹部彩超检查,对其结果进行统计学分析。结果查体老年人群中42.86%患有NAFLD,性别之间无明显差异(P0.05)。体重指数(BMI)、谷丙转氨酶(ALT)、尿酸(UA)及甘油三酯(TG)与NAFLD相关,但在60~74岁的人群中仅与BMI、空腹血糖(FPG)有关。NAFLD的患病率在60~70岁组、71~80岁组及81~92岁组,分别为43.59%、44.1%及41.8%,各组间无明显差异(P0.05)。结论 BMI、ALT、UA及TG为老年NAFLD的独立危险因素,需早期关注,在老年人中随着增龄,NAFLD的患病率无明显变化。     

彝族和汉族老年人代谢综合征患病率和相关危险因素的对比性分析

目的比较性分析四川地区彝族和汉族老年人群代谢综合征（MetS）的患病率和危险因素。方法2007年7月至8月在四川地区采用整群随机抽样的方法对20岁以上的成年人开展横断面调查,本研究选择60岁以上的彝族和汉族老年人群进行分析。诊断标准采用2006年国际糖尿病联盟（IDF）标准。结果彝族和汉族老年人群的MetS的患病率分别为23．6％和29．0％,两民族老年人群中女性MetS患病率均明显高于男性,彝族老年男性MetS患病率明显低于汉族老年男性。彝族农村老年人MetS的患病率明显低于城市,彝族农村老年人MetS的患病率明显低于汉族农村老年人。多因素logstic回归分析显示女性、年龄和城市居住是彝族老年人MetS的独立危险因素;而汉族老年人MetS的患病率仅与女性呈独立正相关。结论四川彝族和汉族老年人群MetS患病率均以女性较高,彝族城市老年人MetS患病率较高,与汉族城乡老年人患病率相当,但彝族农村老年人患病率较低,因此在彝族和汉族老年人群中应广泛且有重点的开展MetS防治策略。     

青岛市市南区老年人高尿酸血症与代谢综合征的关系分析

目的探讨不同性别老年人高尿酸血症与代谢综合征(MS)的关系。方法选择2018年4月1日～11月30日青岛市市南区八大湖街道巢湖路社区卫生服务中心体检老年人1757例,男性712例,女性1045例,根据血尿酸水平分为高尿酸血症组377例,正常尿酸组1380例。采用统一调查表,测量身高、体质量、血压,检测生化指标,分析不同性别高尿酸血症和MS患病率。结果高尿酸血症患病率21.5%,MS患病率28.5%,其中男性28.1%,女性28.7%。高尿酸血症组体质量指数、MS、高血压、收缩压、舒张压、TC、TG和LDL-C水平明显高于正常尿酸组,HDL-C水平低于正常尿酸组(P0.05,P0.01)。男性和女性高尿酸血症患病率均随MS组分数量增加而升高(8.3%vs 17.0%vs 23.4%vs 25.3%vs 23.3%,P=0.001;8.9%vs 14.7%vs 21.3%vs 33.6%vs 38.5%,P=0.000)。logistic回归分析显示,调整年龄、吸烟和饮酒因素后,老年男性超重/肥胖、高脂血症为高尿酸血症发生的独立危险因素,高血糖为高尿酸血症发生的保护因素(P0.05,P0.01);老年女性MS、超重/肥胖、高血压、高脂血症为高尿酸发生的独立危险因素(P0.05,P0.01)。结论青岛市市南区老年人高尿酸血症和MS患病率较高,老年女性高尿酸血症与MS存在相关性。     

长春市老干部非酒精性脂肪性肝病调查

目的探讨老年非酒精性脂肪性肝病（NAFLD）的临床特点及相关危险因素。方法采用回顾性研究方法,对来我院体检中心体检的老干部中NAFLD患者94例和健康对照者276例的临床资料进行分析和比较。结果老干部中NAFLD患者常有肝功能异常,肥胖、2型糖尿病、高脂血症的患病率显著高于对照组（P〈0.05）;两组的体重指数（BMI）、空腹血糖、甘油三酯（TG）、总胆固醇（TC）及高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL-C）差异有统计学意义。结论老年人NAFLD与胰岛素抵抗、代谢综合征明显相关,肥胖、高脂血症、糖尿病是发生老年NAFLD的危险因素,NAFLD是老年血清转氨酶升高的常见原因。     

中年女性冠心病患者临床特点分析

目的：探讨中年女性冠心病患者冠状动脉造影特点及发病危险因素分析。方法：在我院经冠状动脉造影确诊为冠心病的,年龄为40岁以上的住院患者389例,根据年龄和性别分为中年女性（40～59岁）组、老年女性（60～75岁）组和中年男性组,对其冠状动脉造影资料、危险因素进行回顾性分析。结果：（1）中年女性与同龄男性比较：高血压病、高脂血症患病率女性显著低于男性（P〈0．01）;糖尿病患病率女性与男性差异无显著性（P〉0．05）。冠状动脉受累血管数及严重程度女性显著轻于男性（P〈0．01）;（2）中年女性与老年女性比较：高血压病、高脂血症、糖尿病患病率,冠状动脉受累血管数及严重程度显著低于老年女性（P〈0．01）。结论：中年女性冠心病危险因素及发病率均低于同龄男性及老年女性,冠脉病变也较轻。     

不同性别老年高血压人群代谢综合征患病特点

目的分析不同性别老年高血压人群代谢综合征患病率及特点。方法采用分层整群抽样的方法对辽宁省阜新农村地区年龄≥65岁高血压患者1 637例,按不同年龄、体重指数(BMI)、血脂水平、血糖水平及高血压分级分为不同组分,进行流行病学调查和实验室检查。根据中华医学会糖尿病学分会关于代谢综合征诊断标准,分析不同性别老年人在代谢综合征各组分中患病率及特点。结果 (1)代谢综合征患病率随年龄的增长而降低,女性患病率明显高于男性。(2)代谢综合征患病率随BMl的升高而升高。(3)高TG患病率最高.其次为高LDL-C、低HDL-C和高TC。(4)在高血压各分级中女性患病率均高于男性。(5)代谢综合征患病率随血糖的升高而升高,女性患病率均高于男性。结论 (1)老年代谢综合征患病率随年龄的增长而降低,随BMI及血糖的升高而升高。(2)女性代谢综合征患病率明显高于男性,在高血压及血糖分层中女性患病率均高于男性。     

Epidemiology of a fast emerging disease in the Asia-Pacific region: non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is rapidly increasing in the Asia-Pacific and affects up to 30 % of the general population. In younger children, prevalence has been reported to be between 2.1 and 4.5 %. The prevalence of NAFLD increases with increasing age. NAFLD is more prevalent in men than women, but this trend fades in older age group. NAFLD is one of the most common causes of raised serum ALT levels and the latter is closely related to the presence of features of metabolic syndrome. NAFLD may contribute to metabolic syndrome in a similar way as visceral adiposity and can be an early predictor of metabolic disorders. NAFLD increases the risk of developing diabetes mellitus and is closely related to degree of glucose intolerance. A significant proportion of patients with NAFLD have impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes mellitus but with normal fasting blood glucose, highlighting the importance of oral glucose tolerance test in NAFLD patients with normal fasting blood glucose. Besides liver-related complications, NAFLD has been associated with cardiovascular complications, hyperuricemia, gout, chronic kidney disease, gallstone disease, colorectal adenomatous polyp, and polycystic ovarian syndrome. NAFLD seems to be related to host metabolic factors rather than viral factors and does not seem to affect severity of the liver disease in patients with chronic hepatitis B. On the other hand, hepatic steatosis may be related to both host metabolic and viral factors in patients with chronic hepatitis C and seems to adversely impact on the severity of liver disease and possibly response to antiviral therapy.     

老年人非酒精性脂肪肝病与代谢综合征的相关研究

目的调查老年体检人员非酒精性脂肪肝病（NAFLD）和代谢综合征（MS）及其相关疾病的情况。方法从参与本院体检的405名60岁及以上的老年人中选取313例（男224例,女89例）,平均76．08±7．53岁,检测身高、体重、腰围、体质指数（BMI）、空腹血糖、总胆固醇、甘油三脂、高密度脂蛋白及多普勒超声,并对结果分析。结果老年男、女性MS患病率分别为14．3％和20．2％,男、女NAFLD患病率为40．2％、36．0％。在MS各种组合中,男、女性均以肥胖、高血压、高血脂组合比例最高,占40％以上,NAFLD患病率在肥胖、高血压、高血脂、血糖异常组合中高达100％。NAFLD病人中的脑梗死、糖尿病、高血压比例较高,NAFLD病人的空腹血糖、甘油三酯、BMI、腰围也、显著高于非NAFLD,但血清胆固醇差异无统计学意义。NAFLD和MS相关（r=0．374,P〉0．01）。结论60岁及以上老年人的NAFLD和MS患病率均较高,NAFLD作为MS的一个组成部分应及早干预治疗。     

Prevalence and risk factors of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease among Korean adults

Background and Aim: Differences in the prevalence of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) between Eastern and Western populations are primarily attributable to differences in definitions and biased population selection. Thus, the aim of the present study was to accurately determine the actual prevalence of NAFLD by sonography and to characterize the risk factors for NAFLD. Methods: The present cross‐sectional study was performed with data obtained from 6648 subjects, all of whom were older than 20 years of age (3530 men and 3118 women). The term ‘non‐drinker’ was applied to men who consumed less than 30 g alcohol/day and to women who consumed less than 20 g alcohol/day. Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease was defined as a sonographically detected fatty liver in the absence of viral hepatitis in a non‐drinker. Results: Of the 1613 subjects who were diagnosed with sonographic fatty liver, 1240 were non‐drinkers and had no viral hepatitis. Overall, the unadjusted and age‐adjusted prevalences of NAFLD were 18.7% (23% in men, 13.7% in women) and 16.1% (21.6% in men, 11.2% in women), respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that several risk factors were profoundly associated with the prevalence of NAFLD, including obesity, insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia in both genders, as well as age, menopausal status and estrogen medication in women only. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that the prevalence of NAFLD in Korean adults, according to sonographic surveys, is comparable to that seen in more developed countries. From the perspective of increasing obesity, the high prevalence rates noted in the study may herald an increased burden of chronic liver disease in the Korean population.     

武汉市离退休老年人非酒精性脂肪肝及代谢综合征的相关性研究

目的 了解武汉市离退休老年人群非酒精性脂肪肝和代谢综合征的现况特点及2种疾病的相关性. 方法 抽样调查60岁及以上离退休老年人共718例,检测身高、体质量、腰围、血压、血糖、血脂、肝脏B超. 结果 所调查人群代谢综合征及非酒精性脂肪肝的患病率分别为25.2%及25.9%,而高血压、高血糖、高三酰甘油、低高密度脂蛋白胆固醇及腹型肥胖的患病率分别为89.2%,29.6%,40.3%,10.3%及38.6%;女性代谢综合征患病率高于男性(χ2=21.0,P<0.05);随着代谢综合征中异常组分的数目增多,非酒精性脂肪肝的患病率亦增加(男性χ2=82.9,女性χ2=23.7,均为P<0.01);老年人非酒精性脂肪肝患病率与代谢综合征呈显著正相关(男性OR=2.216,女性OR=4.848,均为P<0.01). 结论 离退休老年人群非酒精性脂肪肝及代谢综合征患病率较高,并且两者显著相关,应积极防治心血管疾病高危因子.     

不同性别高血红蛋白水平对非酒精性脂肪性肝病发生风险的影响

目的探讨不同性别Hb浓度和非酒精性脂肪性肝病（NAFLD）发生风险之间的关系。方法以2012年1月至2012年12月上海市仁济医院健康保健中心年龄≥18岁的体检人群为研究对象,依据男女Hb的不同进行分组,评估各组NAFLD的患病率。结果入组的61 646人中,平均年龄（44±14）岁,男性34 961人,女性26 685人。超声诊断为NAFLD者20 401人,占33.09%。不论在男性组还是女性组,NAFLD患病率随着Hb水平的升高而升高（P〈0.001）,男性NAFLD的患病率高于女性（44.7%比17.9%,χ2=4 900,P〈0.001）,在Logistic回归分析中,NAFLD患病率和Hb水平呈现正相关的关系,在男性组,作多变量分析时,第1组作为参照,第2组、第3组、第4组的OR值分别为1.31（95%CI：1.18-1.45）、1.38（95%CI：1.24-1.53）、1.29（95%CI：1.05-1.58）,均P〈0.05。在女性组,多变量分析时,OR值分别为1.08（95%CI：0.95-1.22）、1.26（95%CI：1.09-1.45）、1.59（95%CI：1.06-2.38）,除第2组外,另两组均P〈0.05。男性患NAFLD的风险较女性高（OR为3.7,95%CI：3.57-3.85,P〈0.001）。结论 Hb水平和NAFLD呈正相关关系,高Hb水平是独立于肥胖和代谢综合征的NAFLD的又一风险因素。男性NAFLD发生风险是女性的3.7倍。     

Correlation between fatty liver and coronary risk factors: a population study of elderly men and women in Nagasaki, Japan.

The relation between fatty liver, detected by ultrasonography as a marker of visceral fat accumulation, and coronary risk factors was studied in 810 elderly men and 1,273 elderly women in Nagasaki, Japan from 1990 to 1992. The prevalence of fatty liver was 3.3% in the male and 3.8% in the female non-obese participants (BMI, body mass index < 26.0 kg/m2) and 21.6% in the male and 18.8% in the female obese participants (26.0 kg/m2 < or = BMI). Fatty liver was significantly (p < 0.01) related to hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia in the men and to hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, low-HDL cholesterol, hypertriglyceridemia and diabetes mellitus or impaired glucose tolerance (DM+IGT) in the women independent of age, obesity, smoking and drinking. Non-obesity with fatty liver, rather than obesity with or without fatty liver, had the highest odds ratio for hypertension and low-HDL cholesterol in the men and for hypercholesterolemia, low-HDL cholesterol, hypertriglyceridemia and DM+IGT in the women. The prevalence of fatty liver is the same in elderly men and women, and fatty liver is an independent correlate of coronary risk factors in the elderly.     

Prevalence of primary non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in a population-based study and its association with biochemical and anthropometric measures.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Only a few studies have assessed the epidemiology of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The aim was to evaluate the prevalence of primary NAFLD in a population-based study in Israel and to determine independent risk factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of a subsample of the Israeli national health survey (n=352). Individuals with a known etiology for secondary NAFLD were excluded. Each participant underwent an abdominal ultrasound, biochemical tests and an anthropometric evaluation. RESULTS: Three hundred and twenty-six subjects (53.4% male, mean age 50.5+/-10.3 standard deviaton [SD]) met the inclusion criteria. The prevalence of primary NAFLD was 30% (25-35% 95% confidence intervals [CI]). NAFLD was more prevalent in men than women (38% vs. 21%; P=0.001). Compared with ultrasonography, the sensitivity of serum alanine transaminase (ALT) for the diagnosis of primary NAFLD was 8.2%. Risk factors independently associated with NAFLD included male gender (odds ratios (OR)=2.8, 95% CI 1.5-5.3), abdominal obesity (OR=2.9, 95% CI 1.3-6.4), homeostasis model assessment (OR=5.8, 95% CI 2.0-17.2), hyperinsulinemia (OR=2.3, 95% CI 1.2-4.3, P=0.01) and hypertriglyceridemia (OR=2.4, 95% CI 1.3-4.5). CONCLUSIONS: NAFLD is prevalent in the general Israeli population and closely related to the metabolic syndrome. The use of ALT as a marker for NAFLD seriously underestimates its prevalence.     

上海市成人胆石症患病率及危险因素的流行病学调查

目的明确上海市成人胆石症的患病率及其危险因素。方法通过随机多级分层整群抽样对杨浦区和浦东新区各4个居委会15岁以上居民进行调查,内容涉及问卷咨询、体格检查、75g葡萄糖耐量试验、血脂检测、以及肝脏及胆道系统实时超声检查。结果 3173名15岁以上人群成为此次调查的研究对象,约占上海市人口2.26/10000。男性1217名,女性1956名。年龄15～88岁,平均（52.4±15.1）岁,男女间年龄差异无统计学意义。B超共检出胆石症339例（10.7%）,经年龄和性别调整后,上海市成人胆石症患病率为7.5%。男性和女性的胆石症患病率均随年龄增长而增加。单因素分析显示,胆石症组年龄、体重指数、收缩压、舒张压、空腹及餐后2小时血糖、甘油三酯、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（P〈0.01）、总胆固醇（P〈0.05）均显著高于非胆石症组,而高密度脂蛋白胆固醇则低于非胆石症组（P〈0.01）。男性胆石症危险因素包括肥胖、高血压病、糖耐量异常/糖尿病以及脂肪肝（P〈0.05）;女性胆石症危险因素包括肥胖、中心性肥胖、高血压病、糖耐量异常/糖尿病、高胆固醇血症、高甘油三酯血症以及脂肪肝（P〈0.05）。二项分类变量Logistic回归分析显示仅年龄、收缩压、脂肪肝共3项指标与胆石症相关。结论胆石症为上海市成人的常见病,年龄、肥胖、高血压病、糖耐量异常/糖尿病以及脂肪肝与其发病相关。     

Gallstone disease in non-alcoholic fatty liver: prevalence and associated factors

BACKGROUND: Insulin resistance is a risk factors for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and for gallstone disease (GD). Aims of the present study were to assess the prevalence of and factors associated with GD in unselected patients with NAFLD. METHODS: A total of 161 consecutive patients with NAFLD diagnosed through compatible ultrasonography in the absence of known etiologies of liver disease (in all patients) and/or confirmed histologically (in 61 patients), was studied. Gallstone disease was diagnosed through ultrasound scanning or on the basis of previous cholecystectomy. Anthropometric and biochemical variables and concurrent diseases were compared in 32 NAFLD-GD patients and in 129 NAFLD patients without GD (controls) according to gender. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of GD was 19.88%, higher in female patients (P < 0.05), who were older (P < 001). The overall percentage of GD increased with age (P < 0.05). The GD patients had higher uric acid (men), total cholesterol and apolipoprotein B (apo-B) serum concentrations (women; P < 0.05); women also had a higher prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia (P < 0.05). The age-corrected odds ratio of having GD by tertiles increased significantly with increasing uric acid (men) and with increasing total cholesterol, triglycerides and apo-B (women). At univariate continuous analysis GD was associated with insulin 120 min and uric acid in male patients; and with body mass index, insulin 120 min, apo-B, total cholesterol and triglycerides in female patients. On multivariate analysis it was found that among these factors only uric acid in men and apo-B in women were independently associated with GD in NAFLD. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of GD in NAFLD is more elevated than reported in the general population. The factors independently associated with GD in NAFLD are different from those reported in the general population and vary according to the gender.     

Non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in a Sudanese population: What is the prevalence and risk factors?

Background and study aimsNon alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common clinical condition associated with obesity and considered as possible precursor of more serious disease like Non alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. There is very little research work carried concerning NAFLD in African countries in relation to prevalence and risk factors. Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of NAFLD and risk factors among asymptomatic co-patients accompanying patients admitted to gastroenterology wards at the National Centre for GI & Liver Diseases, Ibn Sina Hospital (Khartoum, Sudan).Patients and methodsSubjects with liver disease, excess alcohol intake (the intake of more than 21 units of alcohol per week for men and 14 units for women per week) and pregnancy were excluded from this study. The age, sex, body mass index (BMI), history and duration of diabetes and hypertension were recorded. Ultrasound was offered followed by clinical examination and blood sample was taken for assessment of liver function from each subject (total number of participants was 100).ResultsNAFLD was diagnosed in 20 patients, giving prevalence of 20%. There was no statistical significance between the two sexes. The mean age of subjects with NAFLD was 53 years old and without NAFLD was 40 years (p < 0.05). Importantly, the prevalence of NAFLD increased with age and BMI. Due to small number of diabetic individuals and hypertension, these two conditions were not statistically significant when related to NAFLD.ConclusionThe estimated prevalence of NAFLD in our study is 20% and this figure is comparable to the prevalence of NAFLD in Asian countries. Males and females were nearly equally affected and the prevalence of NAFLD increased with age and BMI, making obesity a main risk factor.