Medicine

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Epidemiology of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) among adults in an urban Sri Lankan community
(American Gastroenterological Association(AGA) Institute, Published by Elsevier Inc., 2008) Dassanayake, A.S.; Rajindrajith, S.; Kasturiratne, A.; Kalubowila, U.; de Silva, A.P.; Mizoue, T.; Makaya, M.; de Silva, H.J.
BACKGROUND - Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing in the Asia-Pacific region.NAFLD can progress from simple steatosis, through steatohepatitis to advanced hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatoma. Its prevalence in Sri Lanka is not known. OBJECTIVE: To investigate community prevalence and risk factors associated with NAFLD among adults in an urban Sri Lankan population. DESIGN, SETTING AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 2985 randomly selected subjects, 35-65 years old, resident in the Ragama Medical Officer of Health area. NAFLD was diagnosed on ultrasound criteria (presence of 2 out of 3: increased hepatic echogenicity compared to spleen or kidney, blurring of hepatic vasculature, deep attenuation of ultrasound signal), when alcohol intake was <14 units/week for males and <7 units/week for females. Anthropometric and blood pressure (BP) measurements were made; fasting blood glucose and insulin, lipid profile and serum alanine transaminase (ALT) were estimated (normal cutoff values were based on revised ATP III criteria of metabolic syndrome for Asians). RESULTS: 974 (35%) individuals had NAFLD [mean age 52.8 years (SD 7.3), 605 (62.1%) females]. On multivariate analysis, male sex, presence of acanthosis nigricans, central obesity (BMI>25kg/m2 and/or waist circumference >90cm for males, >80cm females), elevated fasting plasma glucose (>100mg/dl),Insulin resistance(HOMA-IR>1), elevated diastolic BP (>85mmHg), elevated plasma triglycerides (>150mg/dl), elevated ALT (> twice the upper limit of normal), and low high density lipoprotein cholesterol (<40mg/dl for men, <50mg/dl for women) were significantly associated with NAFLD. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of NAFLD among adults in this urban Sri Lankan community is as high as in western populations. NAFLD is associated with factors that constitute the metabolic syndrome
Are alanine transaminase (ALT) levels useful to screen for Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) in the community?
(Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2009) Niriella, M.A.; Dassanayake, A.S.; Kalubowila, K.V.U.; Rajindrajith, S.; de Silva, A.P.; Wickremasinghe, A.R.; Kato, N.; Makaya, M.; de Silva, H.J.
BACKGROUND: The value of ALT in screening for NAFLD is controversial. Furthermore, the upper limit of normal (ULN) ALT is defined for western populations but not Asian populations. Objectives: To establish ULN ALT for an urban adult Sri Lankan population, and assess its value in screening for NAFLD in that community. METHODS: This was part of a community based study on non-communicable diseases - the Ragama Health Study. 35-64y adults were selected using stratified random sampling. They were screened by structured interview and liver ultrasound, and 10ml venous blood .was obtained. "Normal" adults were defined as those not using potentially hepatotoxic drugs, drinking alcohol within safe limits, HBsAg and anti-HCV negative, and no fatty liver on ultrasound. NAFLD was diagnosed on established ultrasound criteria, .safe alcohol consumption and being HBsAg and anti-HCV negative. The 95th percentile of ALT was taken as the ULN for this population. RESULTS: 3012 subjects participated in the study. Those with NAFLD (n=930) and "normals" (n=1716) were matched for age and sex. ULN ALT (U/l) was significantly higher in normal males than females (68 vs. 53; p<0.001, Student's t-test). ALT was significantly higher in NAFLD than normals (p<0.001). However, ALT>ULN had a sensitivity [positive predictive value (PPV)] of only 14.5% (58%) for males and 11.5% (60%) for females with NAFLD. When ULN ALT cut offs for western populations (males 30 IU/1, females 19 IU/1) were used, although sensitivity considerably increased, the PPV to detect NAFLD decreased.further [sensitivity (PPV): males 79.4% (42%); females 94.6% (41%)]. CONCLUSIONS: Although ALT was significantly higher in NAFLD than in normal adults, it does not seem a useful test to screen for NAFLD in the community.
Prevalence and risk factors for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease among adults in an urban Sri Lankan population
(Wiley-Blackwell, 2009) Dassanayake, A.S.; Kasturiratne, A.; Rajindrajith, S.; Kalubowila, U.; Chackrewarthy, S.; de Silva, A.P.; Makaya, M.; Mizoue, T.; Kato, N.; Wickremasinghe, A.R.; de Silva, H.J.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an emerging problem in the Asia-Pacific region. However, its prevalence and risk factors in Asian (especially South Asian) communities is poorly studied. In this study, the aim was to determine the community prevalence and risk factors for NAFLD among adults in an urban Sri Lankan population. METHODS: The study population consisted of 35-64-year-old adults, selected by stratified random sampling. NAFLD was diagnosed on established ultrasound criteria for fatty liver, safe alcohol consumption (< 14 units/week for men, < 7 units/week for females) and absence of hepatitis B and C markers. Blood pressure (BP) and anthropometric measurements were made, and fasting glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, serum lipids, fasting serum insulin and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were determined. RESULTS: Of the 2985 study participants, 974 (32.6%) had NAFLD (605 [62.1%] women, mean age 52.8 years [standard deviation, 7.3]). On multivariate analysis, obesity, acanthosis nigricans, insulin resistance, elevated diastolic BP, fasting plasma glucose, plasma triglycerides, and ALT twice the upper limit of the reference range or more were independently associated with NAFLD. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of NAFLD among adults in this urban Sri Lankan community is high and is strongly associated with constituent features of the metabolic syndrome.

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