The importance of metabolic factors for the increasing prevalence of fatty liver in Shanghai factory workers.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate changes in the prevalence rates of ultrasonographic fatty liver (FL) in a specific population.


METHODS
An analysis of the medical records of BaoSteel Group (Shanghai, China) employees was done to evaluate the prevalence of FL in this population, in which health examinations were performed biennially between 1995 and 2002.


RESULTS
The study reviewed a database of 59 131 employees, of which 27.1% received medical check-ups four times within the study period, 26.6% three times, and 24.0% twice. The prevalence rates of obesity and metabolic disorders were high at baseline and increased significantly with time. The prevalence of ultrasonographic FL increased from 3.87% to 14.04% in the overall population, while there was an increase from 4.44% to 14.64% in men and 1.56% to 11.37% in women over the 6-year study period. Increased rates of FL were also noted, from 25.88% to 51.39%, among patients with elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels (> 40 U/L). The highest overall prevalence rates of FL were found in individuals aged 50-60 years, with all age-associated prevalence significantly higher in males than females.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of FL increased rapidly over the study period with increased rates of obesity and metabolic disorders; FL is becoming a major cause of abnormal ALT levels in the specific population.
Fan
Jian-Gao
JG
Center for Fatty Liver, Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai First People's Hospital, Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China. fanjg@citiz.net
Li
Feng
F
Cai
Xiao-Bo
XB
Peng
Yong-De
YD
Ao
Qing-Hong
QH
Gao
Yan
Y
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D019992:Databases as Topic; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000201:enzymology / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008669:Metallurgy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016272:Occupational Health; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013232:Steel; D014463:Ultrasonography
D013232:Steel; D000410:Alanine Transaminase