title: The prevalence of metabolic risk factors among outpatients with diagnosed nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in Lithuania.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease; there is growing evidence that it is a hepatic manifestation of a metabolic syndrome. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of metabolic risk factors among patients with NAFLD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatients with NAFLD were recruited into the study. Family physicians recorded patients' demographic and anthropometric data, leisure-time physical activity, concomitant diseases, and pharmacological treatment for NAFLD into standardized Case Report Forms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, data on 798 patients were analyzed. Most patients were women and they were older than the men (mean age, 60.2 ± 9.6 vs. 54.5 ± 11.4 years; p<0.05). Metabolic risk factors (obesity, arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia) were highly prevalent in the study patients, and these factors were more prevalent among women. There were no differences in the mean Body Mass Index (BMI), in the proportion of men or women with BMI >30 kg/m2 or central obesity in the 2 age groups (≤ 60 years and >60 years). Hypertension and diabetes were more prevalent among older men and women. Dyslipidemia was more common among older women. The level of leisure-time physical activity was lower in women and in older patients. The most frequently prescribed pharmacological agents were cytoprotective agents, lipid-lowering drugs, and antioxidants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Metabolic risk factors were highly prevalent among patients with NAFLD. Obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia were more prevalent among women. The differences in the prevalence of hypertension seemed to be influenced by older age of women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatology, Gastroenterology and Dietetics, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Jonas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Valantinas
authors.forename: Daiva Asta
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Apanaviciene
authors.forename: Ligita
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maroziene
authors.forename: Audrius
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sveikata
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008097:Lithuania / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors