Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease at the gastroenterology outpatient clinic

Hígado graso no alcohólico en consulta de gastroenterología

Introduction: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is one of the most common causes of liver disease worldwide. The prevalence in adults is 20 to 30%. It is the leading indication for liver transplantation in Western nations and is linked to metabolic syndrome.
Methodology: A descriptive prospective study was conducted from July 1 2014 to June 30 2016 in 274 patients with fatty liver disease diagnosed by imaging studies at the gastroenterology outpatient clinic of Hospital San José in Popayán, Cauca, Colombia.
Results: Out of 274 participants, 75.5% were women with mean age of 56 years. No antecedents were reported by 37.9% and 19.1% had hypertension, 12.5% dyslipidemia and 8.7% diabetes mellitus; 71.89% lived in urban areas of Popayán. Body mass index was normal in 22.4%, 52.2% had overweight, 17.8% had class i obesity, 5.17% class ii obesity and 2.99% class iii obesity; 59.06% had transaminase levels within the recommendations of the EASL-EASD-EASO.
Conclusions: The study findings are similar to those of previous studies conducted in Colombia: nonalcoholic fatty liver disease affects predominantly women in the sixth decade of life and is linked with components of metabolic syndrome such as hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes. The higher number of patients with overweight in our study group compared with other local studies is noteworthy.

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