title: Prevalence and risk factors of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in a multiracial suburban Asian population in Malaysia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in the Malaysian population is not known. Malaysia has a multiracial Asian population with three major Asian races: Malay, Chinese, and Indian living together. The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence and risk factors in a suburban Malaysian population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive subjects who came for a health checkup at a suburban medical facility were recruited for the study. All individuals had clinical assessments, anthropometric measurements, blood tests, and ultrasonography of the liver performed. Those with significant alcohol consumption and history of chronic liver disease were excluded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 1,621 "health screened" individuals analyzed, 368 (22.7 %) were found to have NAFLD. They comprised Chinese 1,269 (78.3 %), Malay 197 (12.1 %), and Indian 155 (9.6 %). Males and "older" age group ≥45 years had high prevalence rates with the highest in Indian (68.2 %) and Malay (64.7 %) males. Chinese females <45 years had the lowest prevalence of 5.2 %. A significant increase in the prevalence of fatty liver between age <45 years and ≥45 years was seen in female of all three races but in male, this increase was seen only among the Indians. NAFLD was strongly associated with diabetes mellitus, glucose intolerance, body mass index ≥23, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, hypertriglyceridemia, and hypertension.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NAFLD is common in suburban Malaysian population. Older Indian and Malay males have an inordinately high prevalence of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Sime Darby Specialist Center Megah, 47400, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. reengoh@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Seok-Chin
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Goh
authors.affiliation: Sime Darby Specialist Center Megah, 47400, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. evelynlmho@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Evelyn Lai-Ming
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: Head of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. klgoh56@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Khean-Lee
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Goh
keywords: Chinese; Indian; Malay; Multiracial Asian population; Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease