An investigation of the prevalence rate of fatty liver disease among people undergoing physical examination in Tangshan, China

• Main Author: MENG Yulin
• Format: Article
• Language: zho
• Published: Editorial Department of Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2017-12-01
• Series: Linchuang Gandanbing Zazhi
• Subjects: fatty liver; prevalence; data interpretation statistical
• Online Access: http://www.lcgdbzz.org/qk_content.asp?id=8627

ObjectiveTo investigate the prevalence rate of fatty liver disease among people undergoing physical examination in Tangshan, China, and to provide a reasonable basis for the prevention and treatment of fatty liver disease. MethodsThe clinical data of 12 808 individuals who underwent physical examination in Tangshan from March 2014 to February 2016 were collected, and among these individuals, 3540 had fatty liver disease. The data including age, sex, body mass index (BMI), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and liver ultrasound findings were analyzed. The t-test was used for comparison of continuous data between groups and the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. Results Of all 7151 male individuals who underwent physical examination, 2750 (38.46%) had fatty liver disease, and of all 5657 female individuals, 790 (13.96%) had fatty liver disease; there was a significant difference in the prevalence rate of fatty liver disease between male and female individuals (χ2=947.25, P＜0.01). There was a significant difference in the detection rate of fatty liver disease between male and female individuals in each age group of 18-29, 30-39, 40-49, and ≥50 years (χ2=337.58, 474.06, 449.38, and 12.86, all P＜0.01). There was a significant difference in the detection rate of fatty liver disease between male or female individuals with different BMIs ［obese (BMI ≥28), overweight (24≤BMI＜28), and normal (BMI＜24)］ (χ2=1104.01 and 500.23, both P＜0.01). In the three groups of obese (BMI ≥28), overweight (24≤BMI＜28), and normal (BMI＜24) individuals who underwent physical examination, there was a significant difference in the detection rate of fatty liver disease between male and female individuals in each group (χ2=71.24, 87.97, and 323.84, all P＜0.01). Male and female individuals with obesity (BMI ≥28) and overweight (24≤BMI＜28) had a significantly higher detection rate of fatty liver disease than those with normal BMI (both P＜0.01). There were significant differences in FPG, TC, TG, and LDL-C between the fatty liver group and the non-fatty liver group (t=17.482, 13.698, 22.133, and 27.334, all P＜0001). In male individuals who underwent physical examination, there were significant differences in FPG, TC, TG, and LDL-C between the individuals with and without fatty liver disease (t=11.288,8.652,11.671, and 20.118, all P＜0.01); in female individuals, there were also significant differences in FPG, TC, TG, and LDL-C between the individuals with and without fatty liver disease (t=16.816, 5.532, 15.154, and 18.507, all P＜0.01). ConclusionAmong the adults undergoing physical examination in Tangshan, male adults have a significantly higher prevalence rate of fatty liver disease than female adults. Overweight or obesity, hyperlipidemia, and abnormal glucose metabolism are major causes of fatty liver disease.