Gastroenterology Institute, Medical University of Havana, Cuba.
Pinar del Río Provincial Teaching Hospital, Cuba.
MEDICC Rev. 2021 Jan;23(1):64-71. doi: 10.37757/MR2021.V23.N1.11. Epub 2021 Jan 30.
With a global adult prevalence of 24%, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a global health problem that parallels the worldwide increase of obesity. Its frequency, clinical characteristics and related diseases in Cuba remain unknown.
Describe the clinical characteristics, comorbidities and personal habits of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease who are being treated in secondary and tertiary health facilities in seven Cuban provinces.
A cross-sectional, multicenter study was carried out in 6601 adults seen at gastroenterology outpatient clinics of nine hospitals in seven Cuban provinces from September 2018 through May 2019. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease was diagnosed by abdominal ultrasound. The study included 1070 patients who met the diagnostic and study criteria and agreed to participate. Their personal habits and anthropometric and clinical characteristics, comorbidities and other aspects of their medical histories were recorded.
Of the 1070 participants, 60.7% (649) were women. Participants' average age was 54.5 years and average body mass index was 30.5 kg/m2. A total of 397 (37.1%) were overweight and 574 (53.6%) were obese, 945 (88.3%) led a sedentary lifestyle, 564 (52.7%) had high blood pressure, 406 (37.9%) had lipid disorders and 301 (28.1%) were diabetic. While 484 (45.2%) of patients were asymptomatic, the most frequent clinical signs and symptoms were fatigue (262; 24.5%), dyspepsia (209; 19.5%), abdominal pain (306; 28.5%) and hepatomegaly (189; 17.7%). Liver cirrhosis was present in 37 (3.5%) patients at the time of diagnosis. Family history of type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity were identified in 391 (36.5%) and 279 (26.1%) of participants, respectively.
Prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in these Cuban patients coincides with that reported in the Caribbean region, which has high levels of obesity, overweight and sedentary lifestyles. Most were asymptomatic, female or had metabolism-related comorbidities such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia.
非酒精性脂肪性肝病的全球成人患病率为 24%，是一个全球性的健康问题，与肥胖在全球范围内的增加相平行。其在古巴的发病率、临床特征和相关疾病尚不清楚。
描述在古巴 7 个省份的二级和三级医疗机构接受治疗的非酒精性脂肪性肝病患者的临床特征、合并症和个人习惯。
这是一项在 2018 年 9 月至 2019 年 5 月期间，从古巴 9 家医院的 9 个胃肠病门诊就诊的 6601 名成年人中进行的横断面、多中心研究。非酒精性脂肪性肝病通过腹部超声诊断。该研究纳入了 1070 名符合诊断和研究标准并同意参与的患者。记录了他们的个人习惯以及人体测量学和临床特征、合并症和其他病史方面的情况。
在 1070 名参与者中，60.7%（649 名）为女性。参与者的平均年龄为 54.5 岁，平均体重指数为 30.5kg/m2。共有 397 名（37.1%）超重，574 名（53.6%）肥胖，945 名（88.3%）生活方式久坐，564 名（52.7%）患有高血压，406 名（37.9%）患有血脂异常，301 名（28.1%）患有糖尿病。虽然 484 名（45.2%）患者无症状，但最常见的临床体征和症状为疲劳（262 例；24.5%）、消化不良（209 例；19.5%）、腹痛（306 例；28.5%）和肝肿大（189 例；17.7%）。在诊断时，37 名（3.5%）患者存在肝硬化。391 名（36.5%）和 279 名（26.1%）参与者分别有 2 型糖尿病和肥胖的家族史。
这些古巴患者的非酒精性脂肪性肝病患病率与加勒比地区的报告一致，该地区肥胖、超重和久坐的生活方式较为普遍。大多数患者无症状，为女性，或存在高血压、2 型糖尿病和血脂异常等与代谢相关的合并症。
