title: Epidemiological, clinical, and biochemical characteristics of Saudi patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a hospital-based study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The estimated prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in Saudi Arabia is 7% to 10%. Despite the high prevalence of risk factors including diabetes, obesity, and hyperlipidemia, no recent epidemiological studies have measured the disease burden. We aimed to determine the characteristics of Saudi NAFLD patients attending a university hospital, and study factors affecting alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study among patients referred for ultrasonography in King Khalid University Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from February to May 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  NAFLD was defined as an appearance of fatty liver on routine abdominal ultrasound in the absence of coexisting liver disease and alcohol consumption. Patients were classified into normal and high ALT (ALT >60 U/L) level groups for analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of NAFLD was 16.6% (218/1312). Patients with normal ALT had the mean (SD) age of 45.9 (10.6) years and the mean body mass index of 34.5 (7.9) kg/m2. Forty percent of the 151 patients with normal ALT had diabetes, 66.2% were obese, and 29.1% had hypertension. Forty-three patients (23%) had high ALT levels. These patients had significantly lower age (P=.003) and fasting blood sugar (P=.03) than the normal ALT group. Non-diabetic patients (odds ratio 0.30, 95% CI 0.1-0.8), men (female OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.1-0.5), lower cholesterol (P=.001), high-density lipoprotein (P=.006), and low-density lipoprotein (P=.008) levels were more likely to be observed among patients with high ALT levels. In a multivariate analysis, younger age (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.93-0.99), being male (OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.09-0.57), and a lower cholesterol level (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.37-0.82) were significant predictors of high ALT levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the high prevalence of obesity and diabetes, the prevalence of NAFLD will continue to be high, unless awareness is inculcated among the local population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. walhamoudi@gmail.com
authors.forename: Waleed
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Al-hamoudi
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El-Sabbah
authors.forename: Safiyya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Mansour
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Altuwaijri
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bedewi
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Adam
authors.forename: Alwaleed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alhammad
authors.forename: Faisal
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sanai
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Alswat
authors.forename: Ayman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abdo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D000410:Alanine Transaminase