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Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease and its association with obesity, insulin resistance and increased serum levels of C‐reactive protein in Hispanics
Author(s) -
Riquelme Arnoldo,
Arrese Marco,
Soza Alejandro,
Morales Arturo,
Baudrand René,
PérezAyuso Rosa María,
González Robinson,
Alvarez Manuel,
Hernández Verónica,
GarcíaZattera María José,
Otarola Francisco,
Medina Brenda,
Rigotti Attilio,
Miquel Juan Francisco,
Marshall Guillermo,
Nervi Flavio
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
liver international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.873
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1478-3231
pISSN - 1478-3223
DOI - 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2008.01823.x
Subject(s) - fatty liver , medicine , insulin resistance , gastroenterology , odds ratio , steatosis , body mass index , obesity , cirrhosis , population , metabolic syndrome , endocrinology , disease , environmental health
Background: Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a metabolic disorder of the liver, which may progress to fibrosis or cirrhosis. Recent studies have shown a significant impact of ethnicity on susceptibility to steatosis‐related liver disease. Aims: To estimate the prevalence of NAFLD among Chilean Hispanics as well as the clinical and biochemical variables associated with the disease. Methods: Population‐based study among Chilean Hispanics. The diagnosis of NAFLD was made on the basis of ultrasound evidence of fatty liver and absence of significant alcohol consumption and hepatitis C virus infection. Results: A total of 832 Hispanic subjects were included. Ultrasound findings revealed diffuse fatty liver in 23% of the subjects. Variables associated with fatty liver in multivariate analysis were body mass index >26.9 [odds ratio (OR) 6.2; 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.3–11.5], abnormal aspartate aminotransferase levels (OR 14; 95% CI 8.2–23.7), presence of insulin resistance as measured by homoeostasis model assessment‐insulin resistance (OR 3; 95% CI 1.8–4.8) and serum levels of high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP) greater than 0.86 mg/L (OR 2.9; 95% CI 1.6–5.2). Among subjects with NAFLD, levels of hs‐CRP were similar regardless of the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level. Conclusions: Chilean Hispanics exhibit a high prevalence of NAFLD. Obesity, insulin resistance, abnormal aminotransferase levels and elevated hs‐CRP were independently associated with the presence of NAFLD. ALT elevation underestimates the presence of ultrasonographical fatty liver, whereas hs‐CRP is a sensitive independent marker of NAFLD, which may be useful for detecting fatty liver in the general population.