Prevalence and predictors of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in tertiary care hospital of Taif, Saudi Arabia : a retrospective study

Abstract EN

Background: The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in Saudi Arabia is predicted to exceed 30% by 2030.

NAFLD leads to liver fibrosis, thus increasing morbidity and health care burden.

Obesity and diabetes have been strongly associated with NAFLD in different cities in Saudi Arabia.

Objectives: Therefore, we aim to determine the prevalence rate of NAFLD and specific risk factors for NAFLD among patients of tertiary care hospital of Taif city.

Material and methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of patients for two years, between Feb 2017 and Feb 2019, (n = 100) referred to the hepatology clinic at King Abdulaziz Specialist Hospital in Taif.

The diagnosis of NAFLD was based on the radiology report for patients who were aged >20 years old.

Other parameters including fasting blood glucose (FBG), platelets count, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and total bilirubin were statistically analyzed.

Results: We found that 40% (P < 0.05) of all patients had NAFLD.

The results revealed that a significantly high number of patients with NAFLD have high FBG levels (75%, P < 0.0001) and total bilirubin (P < 0.05).

Meanwhile, platelet count was significantly reduced in patients with NAFLD (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: NAFLD can be a serious health problem in the Taif region.

In addition, high FBG is a significant specific risk factor for NAFLD.

Health care providers should pay more attention to limiting the prevalence of NAFLD and its risk factors.