High prevalence of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease in the Chinese – results from the Hong Kong liver health census
- 7 July 2014
- journal article
- Published by Wiley in Liver International
- Vol. 35 (2), 542-549
- https://doi.org/10.1111/liv.12619
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The prevalence of NAFLD in the general Chinese population is not clear, as there have been few large population studies focussing on healthy individuals AIM: To determine the prevalence and risk factors of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in a healthy Westernized Chinese population. METHODS: This is a prospective cross sectional study of 2,493 volunteers recruited from the general population and the Red Cross Transfusion Center in Hong Kong. All underwent comprehensive questionnaire survey, blood test, abdominal ultrasound and transient elastography. RESULTS: The prevalence of NAFLD was 42%. Gender, age, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, fasting cholesterol and glucose levels were significant factors. The relative risk of NAFLD in those with high waist circumference, diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia was 2.99, 2.01, 1.79, and 1.54 respectively. The degree of steatosis increased with levels of fasting glucose, cholesterol, systolic blood pressure and waist circumference (all p<0.001). The optimal waist circumference was found to be 84 and 74cm for male and females respectively, with a relative risk of 5.16 for those above this limit. 1.2% and 0.002% of subjects with NAFLD had advanced liver fibrosis and cirrhosis respectively. CONCLUSION: NAFLD was found to be highly prevalent in the Chinese population. Increasing levels of risk factors were associated with increasing severity of NAFLD. Lower cut-off levels of waist circumference to predict NAFLD should be adopted for Chinese population. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reservedKeywords
Funding Information
- GlaxoSmithKline
- Novartis Pharmaceuticals
- Bristol-Myers-Squibbs
This publication has 25 references indexed in Scilit:
- The incidence and risk factors of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitisHepatology, 2010
- Diagnosis of fibrosis and cirrhosis using liver stiffness measurement in nonalcoholic fatty liver diseaseHepatology, 2009
- Correlation of liver biochemistry with liver stiffness in chronic hepatitis B and development of a predictive model for liver fibrosisLiver International, 2008
- Guidelines for the assessment and management of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease in the Asia–Pacific region: Executive summaryJournal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 2007
- Treatment of Hypertension in the Prevention and Management of Ischemic Heart DiseaseCirculation, 2007
- What are the risk factors and settings for non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease in Asia–Pacific?Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 2007
- GI Epidemiology: nonalcoholic fatty liver diseaseAlimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 2007
- Global challenges in liver diseaseHepatology, 2006
- Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: From Steatosis to CirrhosisHepatology, 2006
- Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and overweight among adults in ChinaThe Lancet, 2005