Open AccessNonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Associated Risk Factors in a Community‐Based Sample of Mexican‐Origin Adults
Author(s) -
Garcia David O.,
Morrill Kristin E.,
LopezPentecost Melissa,
Villavicencio Edgar A.,
Vogel Rosa M.,
Bell Melanie L.,
Klimentidis Yann C.,
Marrero David G.,
Thomson Cynthia A.
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
hepatology communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2471-254X
DOI - 10.1002/hep4.1896
Subject(s) - nonalcoholic fatty liver disease , medicine , body mass index , steatosis , fatty liver , odds ratio , obesity , overweight , transient elastography , gastroenterology , disease , liver biopsy , biopsy
The incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is highest among Mexican‐origin (MO) adults. Few studies have estimated the prevalence of NAFLD in this subpopulation, particularly by sex and age. We assessed the prevalence of NAFLD in a community sample of MO adults residing in a border region of southern Arizona and determined risk factors associated with NAFLD. A total of 307 MO adults (n = 194 women; n = 113 men) with overweight or obesity completed an in‐person study visit, including vibration‐controlled transient elastography (FibroScan) for the assessment of NAFLD status. A continuous attenuation parameter score of ≥288 dB/m (≥5% hepatic steatosis) indicated NAFLD status. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for NAFLD. We identified 155 participants (50%) with NAFLD, including 52% of women and 48% of men; there were no sex differences in steatosis (men, 287.8 dB/m; women, 288.4 dB/m). Sex, age, patatin‐like phospholipase domain containing 3 ( PNPLA3 ) risk allele carrier status, comorbidities, and cultural and behavioral variables were not associated with NAFLD status. There was some evidence for effect modification of body mass index (BMI) by sex ( P interaction = 0.08). The estimated OR for an increase in BMI of 5 kg/m 2 was 3.36 (95% CI, 1.90, 5.91) for men and 1.92 (95% CI, 1.40, 2.64) for women. In post hoc analyses treating steatosis as a continuous variable in a linear regression, significant effect modification was found for BMI by sex ( P interaction = 0.03), age ( P = 0.05), and PNPLA3 risk allele carrier status ( P = 0.02). Conclusion: Lifestyle interventions to reduce body weight, with consideration of age and genetic risk status, are needed to stem the higher rates of NAFLD observed for MO populations.