Research Article Details

Article ID: A01002
PMID: 34905320
Source: Rev Med Inst Mex Seguro Soc
Title: [Detecting non-alcoholic fatty liver in children with owerweight and obesity.]
Abstract: Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has serious health implications and upward trends of the disease, accompanied by the obesity epidemic worldwide. Objective: To screen for fatty liver in overweight and obese children and evaluate the factors associated with an increased likelihood of presenting a positive-screen result. Material and methods: In a cross-sectional study, 102 children were recruited at a secondary care medical unit. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were quantified and hepatic ultrasounds were performed; multiple logistic regression models were used to evaluate factors associated with the increased odds of presenting with NAFLD (fatty infiltration on ultrasound and ALT > 52 U/L for boys and > 44 U/L for girls). Results: The overall prevalence of NAFLD was 10.8%. In multivariate analysis, a waist-to-hip ratio ≥ 1 was associated with increased odds of screening positive for NAFLD (odds ratio (OR) = 4.96, 95% CI 1.17-20.90). Conclusions: Our findings indicate that one out of ten children with overweight or obesity has data suggestive of NAFLD and is at risk of presenting its consequences on health.
DOI: