Analysis for risk factors related to non-alcoholic fatty liver in people undergone physical examinations in Beijing / 中华全科医师杂志

ABSTRACT

To explore relationship of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), blood lipid level with non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) to provide evidence for its early intervention. Methods Data of 13 532 people living in Beijing undergone regular physical examinations at Beijing Hospital, including liver-ultrasonic scanning, measurements of blood lipid, height, weight, waist circumference and BMI during January to December 2007 were statistically analyzed. Results Totally, 4 807 people were diagnosed as NAFL by B-type ultrasonic scanning, with a mean age of (54 ± 14) years and median age of 53 years. Prevalence of NAFL significantly increased with changes in body building (normal weight, overweight and obesity) and age groups (X2 = 1640.394, P<0.01 ). There was statistical significance in prevalence of NAFL between groups with normal weight and overweight at varied ages ( X2 = 172.618 and 31.928, respectively, P < 0.01 ), with the highest at ages of 51 - 60 years. No statistical difference in prevalence of NAFL between varied age groups was found in those with obesity (X2 = 6.194, P =0.402). Mean of WC, BMI, serum levels of triglyceride (TG) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were significantly higher in NAFL group than those in those without NAFL, but mean serum level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was significantly higher in the former than that in the latter ( P < 0.05 ). Prevalence of dyslipidemia was significantly higher in NAFL group than that in those without NAFL ( X2 = 112. 974 - 895. 500, respectively, P < 0. 01 ), with the highest of hypertriglyceridemia, accounting for 54. 36 percent. Prevalence of NAFL was significantly higher in those with larger WC than that in those with normal WC in the normal weight and overweight group (X2 = 120.982 and 45.327, respectively, P<0.01). Results of logistic regression analysis showed that WC, BMI, TG and LDL-C all were risk factors for NAFL both in men and women, and HDL-C was a protective factor for NAFL only in women. Conclusions Overweight, obesity and dyslipidemia closely correlate with occurrence of NAFL Control of body weight and blood lipid level are essential for decreasing prevalence of NAFL.