Prevalence and risk factors of fatty liver disease in the Shuiguohu district of Wuhan city, central China

Background: Fatty liver disease (FLD) is highly prevalent in Western countries, but recent data have shown that FLD is also emerging in China. Aim: To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of FLD in the Shuiguohu district of Wuhan city, central China, during 1995–2004. Methods: 12247 individuals (7179 men and 5068 women) over 18 years of age who were living in the area were investigated for FLD in the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University from 1995 to 2004. FLD was determined by the ultrasonographic method. Height, weight, blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, alanine aminotransferase, total cholesterol and triglyceride were determined by routine laboratory methods. Results: The prevalence of FLD was 12.5% in 1995, and rose gradually to 24.5% by 2003–4. The prevalence was twice as high in men (28.1%) as in women (13.8%), and increased with age in females, and males