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Prevalence of asymptomatic nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in nondiabetic participants: a study from south india

The Egyptian Journal of Internal Medicine volume 31, pages 92–98 (2019)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common chronic disease that is rapidly increasing worldwide.

Aim

The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors associated with NAFLD in nondiabetics from South India.

Participants and methods

We recruited 345 asymptomatic participants consecutively, and the study period was between January 2014 and December 2017. All participants underwent risk factor evaluation, fasting serum lipid profile, C-reactive protein (CRP), hemoglobin A1c, liver function test, and abdominal ultrasound.

Results

Of 345 participants, men represented 213 (71%). The mean age of the participants was 58.4±11.1 years, with age range from 24–68 years. Prevalence of NAFLD was seen in 22%. On risk factor evaluation, 107 (31%) were hypertensive, 89 (25.7%) smoked, 52 (15%) were overweight, 110 (24.9%) were obese, and 113 (32.7%) had dyslipidemia. The mean CRP was 12.7±9.5 mg/l. High γ-glutamyl transferase levels, elevated CRP levels, obesity (45, 59.2%), high total cholesterol (49, 64.4%), low levels of high-density lipoprotein (28, 36.8%), high levels of low-density lipoprotein (27, 35.5%), and high triglycerides (31, 40.7%) were significantly associated with NALFD compared with non-NAFLD. After adjustment using multiple regression analysis, obesity (odds ratio: 3.5; 95% CI: 2.18–6.16), high total cholesterol [odds ratio: 4.9; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.91–9.43], low high-density lipoprotein (odds ratio: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.20–4.47), high low-density lipoprotein (odds ratio: 2.9; 95% CI: 1.58–6.17), high triglycerides (odds ratio: 2.4; 95% CI: 1.33–4.60), and elevated CRP levels (odds ratio: 2.0; 95% CI: 1.21–3.39) were significantly associated with NAFLD.

Conclusion

Our study established obesity, CRP positivity, and dyslipidemia as independently associated with NAFLD in South Indian patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Research, Yashoda Group of Hospitals, Hyderabad, Telangana, India

    V. C. S. Srinivasarao Bandaru

  2. Department of Neurology, Yashoda Group of Hospitals, Hyderabad, Telangana, India

    V. C. S. Srinivasarao Bandaru, Jaydip R. Chaudhury & Kandadai R. Mridula DNB, DM

  3. Department of Radiology, Yashoda Group of Hospitals, Hyderabad, Telangana, India

    Palle Lalitha

  4. Department of Medicine, Yashoda Group of Hospitals, Nizams’s Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, Telangana, India

    Somala N. Reddy, Pradeep K. Misra & Banda Balaraju

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  1. V. C. S. Srinivasarao Bandaru
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  2. Jaydip R. Chaudhury
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Correspondence to Kandadai R. Mridula DNB, DM.

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Bandaru, V.C.S.S., Chaudhury, J.R., Lalitha, P. et al. Prevalence of asymptomatic nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in nondiabetic participants: a study from south india. Egypt J Intern Med 31, 92–98 (2019). https://doi.org/10.4103/ejim.ejim_76_18

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