title: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with cardiovascular risk factors of metabolic syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the prevalence of steatosis and to assess its correlations with the classical cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, components of metabolic syndrome (MS) in a rural population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 254 subjects was enrolled in the study. Collected data included: age, gender, complete medical history, anthropometric and blood pressure (BP) measurements. The biological evaluation included metabolic and hepatic parameters. Ultrasound evaluation of steatosis relied on the criteria of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two thirds of the study population were obese or overweight (64.96%); 32.66% had systolic BP and 27.16% diastolic BP levels higher than normal. 38% of the subjects had abnormal fasting blood glucose levels, 14.56% having glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) values corresponding to pre-diabetes, and 9.84% to overt diabetes; 8% had low HDL-cholesterol and 14.96% high triglycerides (Tg) levels. MS was present in 50.8% of individuals. Only 10.8% of all subjects did not have an ultrasound appearance of steatosis; 28.8% had moderate and 32% severe steatosis. There were statistically significant differences in subjects with steatosis vs. subjects without steatosis with regard to body mass index (BMI), WC, presence of MS, and BP and Tg levels, but not to ALAT, ASAT and GGT values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The important prevalence of obesity, fasting hyperglycamia, steatosis and MS shows a particularly metabolic fragile population; early diagnosis and interventional strategies are mandatory.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Center of Diabetes, Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Grigore T. Popa-Iaşi Sf. Spiridon Hospital, Iaşi.
authors.forename: Daniela Maria
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Hurjui
authors.forename: Otilia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Niţă
authors.forename: Lidia Iuliana
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Graur
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mihalache
authors.forename: Dana Stefana
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Popescu
authors.forename: I C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Huţanaşu
authors.forename: Didona
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ungureanu
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Graur
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test / Q000379:methods; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012494:Sampling Studies; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D014280:Triglycerides