Abstracts of the 2022 Annual Meeting of the ALEH
Más datosNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most frequent cause of liver disease, with a worldwide prevalence of 25%. This disease is characterized by the accumulation of fat in the hepatocyte in the absence of secondary causes such as excessive alcohol consumption, drugs, or hereditary causes and can progress to steatohepatitis with or without fibrosis, cirrhosis and even hepatocellular carcinoma. The association between NAFLD and obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome is well established. It is estimated that approximately 76% of individuals with obesity, mainly visceral obesity, have NAFLD. In addition, previous studies have shown that simple anthropometric measures of body fat assessment, such as body mass index (BMI), neck circumference (NC), waist circumference (WC) and waist-hip ratio (WHR), are predictors of NAFLD. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of NAFLD in obese individuals and the role of anthropometric measurements that estimate visceral fat as a predictor of NAFLD.
Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional study. The study sample is a convenience sampleadults over 18 years of age, followed up at the outpatient clinics of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology of the Hospital University Antonio Pedro and at risk of NAFLD (pre-diabetes, type 2 diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome and/or obesity). To participate in the study, it was necessary to sign an informed consent form and clinical and anthropometric assessment, metabolic profile and liver ultrasound, elastography and electrical bioimpedance tests were performed.
ResultsThe evaluation was performed on 95 patients. There is a predominance of females in relation to males (81% vs. 18.9%, respectively) and a higher prevalence of alcoholism and diabetes in males (50% and 66.6%) when compared to females (18.1% and 48%). Furthermore, there is a high prevalence of physical inactivity, smoking, hypertension and dyslipidemia in both sexes. The prevalence of hepatic steatosis in 91.30% of women and 63.6% of men who underwent abdominal ultrasounds is another important observation. Anthropometric measurements such as NC, WC, and WHR are high in both sexes. Circumferences, in cm, of the neck and waist were greater in males (medians 42 cm and 106.9 cm) compared to females (medians 36.1 cm and 105 cm).
ConclusionsTo date, a high prevalence of patients with visceral obesity, hepatic steatosis and metabolic diseases has been observed. Regarding the anthropometric measures of visceral obesity, they are high in both sexes, proving to be an important risk factor for NAFLD. The study is ongoing and further statistical analyzes will be performed to identify the association of hepatic steatosis with cardiometabolic diseases.