Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and its Predictive Factors Among High-Risk Employees of Health Insurance Organization in Tabriz, Iran

Abstract

Objective: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been known as the most frequent type of liver disease, with the occurrence of 20% to 30% in developed countries and 33.9% in Iran. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence of fatty liver among high-risk individuals and its predictive factors. Materials and Methods: This analytic cross-sectional study was performed on 70 men and women, aged 32-62 and BMI >= 25, who were divided into 2 groups: 1) the patient group (n = 45) with positive results of fatty liver disease, and 2) the healthy group (n = 25). An anthropometry assessment (weight and BMI), blood tests (AST, ALT, FBS, TC, and TG), and determination of fatty liver grade were done. Results: In our study, the rate of NAFLD was 64 among 100 susceptible individuals (BMI >= 25). We found significant differences in sex (P = 0.020), weight (P < 0.001), BMI (P = 0.001), AST (P < 0.001), ALT (P < 0.001), and AST/ALT (P < 0.025) between the groups. A direct association was observed between the increase in BMI and NAFLD (P = 0.001). In the study of relationship between fatty liver grade, BMI, and biochemical factors, there were significant differences in mean BMI, weight, AST, ALT, and AST/ALT between patients with NAFLD grades 1 and 3. However, no significant changes were observed for FBS, TC, and TG between patients with NAFLD grades 1, 2 and 3. Sex, BMI and AST were estimated as independent predictors of NAFLD. The risk of NAFLD increased in male sex (P = 0.053), by the increment of BMI (P = 0.002) and AST (P = 0.002) in the study. Conclusion: This study verified the relationship between NAFLD and obesity, and liver aminotransferase was repeatedly reported in NAFLD.