The Prevalence of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Diabetes Mellitus in an Iranian Population

• Published in: Middle East journal of digestive diseases Vol. 9; no. 2; pp. 86 - 93
• Main Authors: Rabiee, Behnam, Roozafzai, Farzin, Hemasi, Gholam Reza, Poustchi, Hossein, Keyvani, Hossein, Khonsari, Mahmood Reza, Ajdarkosh, Hossein, Maadi, Mansooreh, Sima Saeedian, Fatemeh, Zamani, Farhad
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Iran Shiraz University of Medical Sciences 01-04-2017; Iranian Association of Gastroerterology and Hepatology; Iranian Association of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
• Subjects: Diabetes mellitus; Iran; Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; Non-communicable disease; Original; Prevalence; Non-communicable disease; Prevalence; Iran; Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; Diabetes mellitus
• ISSN: 2008-5230; 2008-5249
• DOI: 10.15171/mejdd.2017.56

BACKGROUND Type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are important causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of DM in the context of NAFLD. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, we studied 5052 participants, aged 18 years and older, of a baseline population-based cohort in northern Iran (N=6143). The prevalence of DM was estimated in individuals with and without NAFLD. The association between NAFLD and T2DM was evaluated using logistic regression with the adjustment of confounding effects of age, sex, body mass index, lipid profiles, and fasting insulin. RESULTS In men, the prevalence (95% confidence interval) of T2DM was 5.34% (4.35%-6.34%) and 15.06% (13.12%-17.00%) in individuals without and with NAFLD, respectively (p <0.001). In women without NAFLD, the prevalence was 8.27% (6.83%-9.71%) while in the presence of NAFLD, the prevalence was 27.21% (24.59%-29.83%), (p <0.001). In univariate analysis, the chance of having T2DM was 3.700 (3.130-4.380) times more in patients with NAFLD compared with subjects without NAFLD (p<0.001). This chance was reduced (Odds Ratio=1.976, 95% CI: 1.593-2.451, p <0.001) after removing the effects of other variables. CONCLUSION The prevalence of T2DM is increased in the context of NAFLD. This condition may be considered as an independent predictor of T2DM.