title: Prevalence and risk factors of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in the elderly: results from the Rotterdam study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) appears to increase with age. However, limited data are available concerning the prevalence of NAFLD in the elderly. Our aim was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of NAFLD in an elderly population.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was based on participants in the population-based Rotterdam Study. Each participant was interviewed and had a clinical examination at the research center, including a fasting blood collection, liver ultrasonography, and anthropometric assessment. Ordinal and logistic regression analysis was used to assess associations between covariables and (severity of) NAFLD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data from 2811 participants (mean age 76.4 ± 6.0 years) were analyzed. The prevalence of NAFLD was 35.1%. The prevalence of NAFLD decreased with advancing age (p<0.001). In logistic regression analysis, age (OR 0.97; 95% CI 0.95-0.99; p<0.001), total physical activity level (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.96-0.99; p=0.005), pack years of smoking (OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00-1.01; p=0.02), waist circumference >88 cm for women and > 102 cm for men (OR 4.89; CI 4.00-5.96; p<0.001), fasting glucose ≥ 100 mg/dl or drug treatment for elevated blood glucose (OR 2.11, 95% CI 1.72-2.59; p<0.001), blood pressure ≥ 130/85 mmHg or drug treatment for elevated blood pressure (OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.08-3.01; p=0.03), and triglycerides ≥ 150 mg/dl or treatment with serum lipid reducing agents (OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.28-1.91; p<0.001) were associated with NAFLD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NAFLD is common in the elderly, although the prevalence decreases with advancing age. Further studies are warranted exploring potential factors contributing to this apparent positive selection effect in the elderly.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC University Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Edith M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Koehler
authors.forename: Jeoffrey N L
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Schouten
authors.forename: Bettina E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Frank J A
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: van Rooij
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hofman
authors.forename: Bruno H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Stricker
authors.forename: Harry L A
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Janssen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D015444:Exercise; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000410:Alanine Transaminase