Relationship Between Infection and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) in a Developing Country: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a very common disease that affects 25-30% of the population in western countries. Many studies have observed the importance of infection in the development of insulin resistance, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, and liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. However, the evidence from different studies was controversial. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between infection and NAFLD in a developing country.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study included all the attending outpatient clinics at four Major University hospitals and two research and clinical institutes in a developing country in the period between June and October 2019. Patients were assessed for the diagnosis of infection as detected by antigen in stool; they were also assessed for the diagnosis of NAFLD by ultrasound, fibroscan, and CAP.

RESULTS

The study was conducted on 646 patients; infection was found to be present in 538 patients (83.3%). NAFLD (diagnosed by both U/S and Fibroscan with CAP), ALT, AST, hepatomegaly, hypertension, fasting blood sugar were significantly higher in +ve group than -ve group. After performing Linear regression of independent risk factors of NAFLD to prove or to refute the role of Helicobacter; positivity, total cholesterol, degree of fatty liver by ultrasound, fasting blood sugar and diastolic blood pressure were independent risk factors for NAFLD.

CONCLUSION

infection was independent risk factors for NAFLD and correlated with increased degree of steatosis.