Epidemiology of non- alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in an urban Sri Lankan population

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing in the Asia-Pacific region. NAFLD can progress from simple steatosis, through steatohepatitis to advanced hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatoma. Its prevalence in Sri Lanka is not known. Objective: To investigate community prevalence and risk factors associated with NAFLD among adults in an urban Sri Lankan population. DESIGN, SETTING AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 2985 randomly selected subjects, 35-65 years old, resident in the Ragama Medical Officer of Health area. NAFLD was diagnosed on ultrasound criteria (presence of 2 out of 3: increased hepatic echogenicity compared to spleen or kidney, blurring of hepatic vasculature, deep attenuation of ultrasound signal), and when alcohol intake was <14 units/week for males and <7 units/week for females. Anthropometric and blood pressure (BP) measurements were made; fasting blood glucose, lipid profile and serum alanine transaminase (ALT) were estimated (normal cutoff values were based on revised ATP III criteria of metabolic syndrome for Asians). RESULTS: 974(35%) individuals had NAFLD [mean age 52.8 years (SD 7.3), 605 (62.1%) females]. On multivariate analysis, central obesity (BMI>25kg/m2 and/or waist circumference >90cm for males, >80cm females), elevated fasting plasma glucose (>100mg/dl), elevated diastolic BP (>85mmHg), elevated plasma triglycerides (>150mg/dl), elevated ALT (>twice the upper limit of normal), and low high density lipoprotein cholesterol (<40mg/dl for men, <50mg/dl for women) were significantly associated with NAFLD. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of NAFLD among adults in this urban Sri Lankan community is as high as in western populations. NAFLD is associated with factors that constitute the metabolic syndrome.