Prevalence and Risk Factors of Fatty Liver in Dehui City of Jilin Province of Northeastern China

Abstract

The prevalence of fatty liver disease (FLD), a chronic disorder that includes alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) ranges from 1% to 50% and varies with age, gender and occupation in different districts of China. Some studies have shown that FLD especially NAFLD, has a relationship with cardiac disease, metabolic syndrome, dyslipidemia and obesity. To determine the prevalence of FLD and related diseases in the Dehui City of Jilin Province in the Northeastern region of China, we surveyed the population of Dehui City of Jilin Province in China.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of FLD in relation to different factors, such as age, location, occupations and educational levels, and analyze the risk factors of FLD.

The study sample was separated into three groups according to alcohol consumption: non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and suspected alcoholic liver disease (SALD) groups. All subjects (18- 78 years) completed a standard questionnaire, physical examination and hepatic ultrasound examination. Multivariate logistic regression was used to screen risk factors of FLD.

The study indicated that the prevalence of FLD was 23.1%, strati ed by NAFLD 14.5%, SALD 5.5% and ALD 3.0%. This survey showed a lower prevalence of hypertension between NAFLD and other groups (P<0.001). As alcohol consumption increased, the prevalence of FLD gradually decreased, when compared with NAFLD. The risk factors of FLD were hypertension, central obesity, alcohol consumption, dyslipidemia fasting blood glucose and being male.

Among groups of FLD, NAFLD has a higher prevalence in the Jilin Province of China. In China, elderly men with high educational levels working in mentally taxing fields are at a high risk of FLD. It is shown that hypertriglyceridemia is a very important risk factor to coronary heart disease, diabetes and hypertension. Generally, FLD was significantly associated with hypertension, drinking, high triglycerides and central obesity.