Research Article Details

Article ID: A00306
PMID: 35143562
Source: PLoS One
Title: Rural-Urban differentials in prevalence, spectrum and determinants of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in North Indian population.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a spectrum of disease ranging from simple steatosis, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), through to advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis. We assessed the prevalence, spectrum, and determinants of NAFLD among adults in urban and rural North India. METHODS: A representative sample of adults aged 30-60 years were recruited from urban Delhi and rural Ballabhgarh during 2017-2019. Participants underwent abdominal ultrasonography (USG) and vibration controlled transient elastography (VCTE) with FibroScan to assess fatty liver and fibrosis, respectively. We estimated the age- and sex-standardised prevalence of NAFLD and its spectrum. The factors associated with 'ultrasound-diagnosed NAFLD' were identified using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 828 urban (mean ± SD age: 45.5 ± 8.0 years; women: 52.7%) and 832 rural (mean ± SD age: 45.1 ± 7.9 years; women: 62.4%) participants were recruited. The age- and sex-standardized prevalence of ultrasound-diagnosed NAFLD was 65.7% (95%CI: 60.3-71.2) in the urban and 61.1% (55.8-66.5) in the rural areas, respectively. The prevalence of NAFLD with elevated alanine transaminase (≥40IU/L) was 23.2% (19.8-26.6), and 22.5% (19.0-26.0) and any fibrosis by liver stiffness measurement on transient elastography (≥6.9 kPa) was 16.5% (13.8-19.8) and 5.2% (3.8-6.7) in urban and rural participants, respectively. In both urban and rural areas, diabetes, central obesity and insulin resistance were significantly associated with NAFLD. CONCLUSION: NAFLD prevalence was high among rural and urban North Indian adults, including fibrosis or raised hepatic enzymes. The strong association of metabolic determinants confirms its linkage with metabolic syndrome.
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263768