Prevalence of asymptomatic nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in nondiabetic participants: a study from south india

Background Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common chronic disease that is rapidly increasing worldwide. Aim The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors associated with NAFLD in nondiabetics from South India. Participants and methods We recruited 345 asymptomatic participants consecutively, and the study period was between January 2014 and December 2017. All participants underwent risk factor evaluation, fasting serum lipid profile, C-reactive protein (CRP), hemoglobin A1c, liver function test, and abdominal ultrasound. Results Of 345 participants, men represented 213 (71%). The mean age of the participants was 58.4±11.1 years, with age range from 24–68 years. Prevalence of NAFLD was seen in 22%. On risk factor evaluation, 107 (31%) were hypertensive, 89 (25.7%) smoked, 52 (15%) were overweight, 110 (24.9%) were obese, and 113 (32.7%) had dyslipidemia. The mean CRP was 12.7±9.5 mg/l. High γ-glutamyl transferase levels, elevated CRP levels, obesity (45, 59.2%), high total cholesterol (49, 64.4%), low levels of high-density lipoprotein (28, 36.8%), high levels of low-density lipoprotein (27, 35.5%), and high triglycerides (31, 40.7%) were significantly associated with NALFD compared with non-NAFLD. After adjustment using multiple regression analysis, obesity (odds ratio: 3.5; 95% CI: 2.18–6.16), high total cholesterol [odds ratio: 4.9; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.91–9.43], low high-density lipoprotein (odds ratio: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.20–4.47), high low-density lipoprotein (odds ratio: 2.9; 95% CI: 1.58–6.17), high triglycerides (odds ratio: 2.4; 95% CI: 1.33–4.60), and elevated CRP levels (odds ratio: 2.0; 95% CI: 1.21–3.39) were significantly associated with NAFLD. Conclusion Our study established obesity, CRP positivity, and dyslipidemia as independently associated with NAFLD in South Indian patients.