title: Prevalence of and risk factors for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in a Chinese population: An 8-year follow-up study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the prevalence of and risk factors for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in a Chinese population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1948 adults from China was followed for 8 years. A cross-sectional study was performed to investigate the prevalence of NAFLD at baseline, and then the participants were followed for 8 years to investigate risk factors for the development of NAFLD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1948 participants were enrolled at baseline, of whom 691 were diagnosed with NAFLD. During the 8-year follow-up, 337 baseline NAFLD-free participants developed NAFLD. They had a greater increase in body mass index (BMI), serum uric acid, fasting plasma glucose, very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and a considerable decrease in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. 123 participants who had NAFLD at baseline lost NAFLD during the 8-year follow-up period. They had a greater decrease in BMI, fasting plasma glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NAFLD is prevalent in Chinese population with a rapidly increasing tendency. It can be reversed when patients lose their weight, control their hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia, and reduce the liver enzyme levels.
authors.affiliation: Zhen-Ya Lu, Department of Internal Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Zhen-Ya
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Zhen-Ya Lu, Department of Internal Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Zhou
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.affiliation: Zhen-Ya Lu, Department of Internal Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Ya-Li
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Zhen-Ya Lu, Department of Internal Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Muhuyati
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wulasihan
authors.affiliation: Zhen-Ya Lu, Department of Internal Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Xin-Hua
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D033461:Hyperuricemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D065840:Protective Factors; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D013997:Time Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014504:Urban Health; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D014527:Uric Acid
keywords: Follow-up; Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; Prevalence; Risk factors