Prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and liver fibrosis in a general population cohort from Argentina

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

South America is one of the regions with the highest rates of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This study aimed to assess the prevalence and severity of NAFLD in suburban Argentina.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study involved a general community cohort of 993 subjects evaluated sequentially with a comprehensive lifestyle questionnaire, laboratory testing, abdominal ultrasound (US) and transient elastography with XL probe. NAFLD was diagnosed according to standard criteria.

RESULTS

The prevalence of NAFLD by the US was 37.2% (326/875) overall, 50.3% in subjects with overweight/obesity, 58.6% with hypertriglyceridemia, 62.3% with diabetes/hyperglycemia and 72.1% with all three risk factors. Male gender (OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.03-1.47, p=0.029), age (50-59 years: OR 1.98, 95 CI 1.16-3.39, p=0.013 and ≥60 years: OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.13-3.09, p=0.015), BMI (25-29: OR 2.87, 95% CI 1.86-4.51, p<0.001 and ≥30: OR 9.57, 95% CI 6.14-15.20, p<0.001), diabetes/hyperglycemia (OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.05-2.61, p=0.029) and hypertriglyceridemia (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.20-2.48, p=0.002) were independent predictors of NAFLD. Among patients with steatosis, 22.2 % (69/311) had ≥F2 fibrosis (overweight 25%, hypertriglyceridemia 32%, diabetes/hyperglycemia 34%). BMI (OR 5.22, 95% CI 2.64-11.74, p<0.001), diabetes/hyperglycemia (OR 2.12, 95% CI 1.05-4.29, p=0.04) and hypertriglyceridemia (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.03-3.68, p=0.040) were independent predictors of liver fibrosis.

CONCLUSIONS

This general population study from Argentina showed a high prevalence of NAFLD. Significant liver fibrosis was present in 22% of subjects with NAFLD. This information adds to the existing knowledge of NAFLD epidemiology in Latin America.