From January 2019 to December 2021, overweight and obese children who visited in health outpatient Center of Hunan Children's Hospital were studied to explore and analyze the rate, related factors and patterns of multimorbidity of overweight and obesity-related diseases in children in Hunan Province. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyze the multimorbidity-related factors of overweight and obesity-related diseases in children. Association rules (apriori algorithm) were used to explore the multimorbidity patterns of overweight and obesity-related diseases in children. A total of 725 overweight and obese children were included in this study. The multimorbidity rate of overweight and obesity-related diseases in children was 46.07% (334/725). Age, waist circumference, the frequency of food consumption such as hamburgers and fries and adding meals before bedtime were multimorbidity-related factors of overweight and obesity-related diseases in children. The multimorbidity associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was relatively common. The patterns with the top three support degrees were "NAFLD+dyslipidemia","NAFLD+hypertension" and "NAFLD+hyperuricemia". The patterns with the top three confidence and elevation degrees were "Hypertension+dyslipidemia => NAFLD","Hyperuricemia => NAFLD" and "NAFLD+hypertension => dyslipidemia".
Child ; Humans ; Overweight/complications* ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; Pediatric Obesity/epidemiology* ; Hyperuricemia ; Multimorbidity ; Hypertension/epidemiology* ; Dyslipidemias ; Body Mass Index ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence rate of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in overweight/obese children who visit a hospital, and to explore the influencing factors of NAFLD, in order to provide a basis for the prevention of NAFLD in overweight/obese children. METHODS: Overweight/obese children who visited Hunan Children's Hospital from June 2019 to September 2021 were recruited. The prevalence rate of NAFLD was examined. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the factors influencing the development of NAFLD [non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)]. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to evaluate the predictive value of the influencing factors for NAFL and NASH. RESULTS: A total of 844 overweight/obese children aged 6-17 years were enrolled. The prevalence rate of NAFLD in overweight/obese children was 38.2% (322/844), among which the prevalence rates of NAFL and NASH were 28.8% (243/844) and 9.4% (79/844), respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the increase of waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were associated with the development of NAFL and NASH (P<0.05). The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the combined measurement of WHR and HDL-C had a predictive value for NAFL (area under the curve: 0.653, 95%CI: 0.613-0.694), and for NASH (area under the curve: 0.771, 95%CI: 0.723-0.819). CONCLUSIONS The prevalence rate of NAFLD in overweight/obese children who visit a hospital is high. WHR and HDL-C are associated with the development of NAFLD and the combined measurement of WHR and HDL-C has a certain value for predicating the development of NAFLD.
Child ; Humans ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/complications* ; Overweight/complications* ; Pediatric Obesity/epidemiology* ; Prevalence ; Adolescent

BACKGROUND: China and the United States (US) ranked first and third in terms of new liver cancer cases and deaths globally in 2020. Therefore, a comprehensive assessment of trends in the incidence of primary liver cancer with four major etiological factors between China and the US during the past 30 years with age-period-cohort (APC) analyses is warranted. METHODS: Data were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease 2019, and period/cohort relative risks were estimated by APC modeling from 1990 to 2019. RESULTS: In 2019, there were 211,000 new liver cancer cases in China and 28,000 in the US, accounting for 39.4% and 5.2% of global liver cancer cases, respectively. For China, the age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) consecutively decreased before 2005 but increased slightly since then, whereas the ASIR continuously increased in the US. Among the four etiological factors of liver cancer, the fastest reduction in incidence was observed in hepatitis B virus-related liver cancer among Chinese women, and the fastest increase was in nonalcoholic steatosis hepatitis (NASH)-related liver cancer among American men. The greatest reduction in the incidence of liver cancer was observed at the age of 53 years in Chinese men (-5.2%/year) and 33 years in Chinese women (-6.6%/year), while it peaked at 58 years old in both American men and women (4.5%/year vs . 2.8%/year). Furthermore, the period risks of alcohol- and NASH-related liver cancer among Chinese men have been elevated since 2013. Simultaneously, leveled- off period risks were observed in hepatitis C viral-related liver cancer in both American men and women. CONCLUSIONS Currently, both viral and lifestyle factors have been and will continue to play an important role in the time trends of liver cancer in both countries. More tailored and efficient preventive strategies should be designed to target both viral and lifestyle factors to prevent and control liver cancer.
Male ; Humans ; United States/epidemiology* ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Incidence ; Global Burden of Disease ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/complications* ; Cohort Studies ; Liver Neoplasms/etiology* ; China/epidemiology*

Objective: Liver fibrosis is an important predictor of mortality in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Peripheral artery disease (PAD) and liver fibrosis share many common metabolic dysfunctions. We aimed to explore the association between PAD and risk of fibrosis deterioration in NAFLD patients. Methods: The study recruited 1,610 NAFLD patients aged ≥ 40 years from a well-defined community at baseline in 2010 and followed up between August 2014 and May 2015. Fibrosis deterioration was defined as the NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS) status increased to a higher category at the follow-up visit. PAD was defined as an ankle-brachial index of < 0.90 or > 1.40. Results: During an average of 4.3 years' follow-up, 618 patients progressed to a higher NFS category. PAD was associated with 92% increased risk of fibrosis deterioration [multivariable-adjusted odds ratio ( ): 1.92, 95% confidence interval ( ): 1.24, 2.98]. When stratified by baseline NFS status, the for progression from low to intermediate or high NFS was 1.74 (95% : 1.02, 3.00), and progression from intermediate to high NFS was 2.24 (95% : 1.05, 4.80). There was a significant interaction between PAD and insulin resistance (IR) on fibrosis deterioration ( for interaction = 0.03). As compared with non-PAD and non-IR, the coexistence of PAD and IR was associated with a 3.85-fold (95% : 2.06, 7.18) increased risk of fibrosis deterioration. Conclusion PAD is associated with an increased risk of fibrosis deterioration in NAFLD patients, especially in those with IR. The coexistence of PAD and IR may impose an interactive effect on the risk of fibrosis deterioration.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Ankle Brachial Index ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Peripheral Arterial Disease ; complications ; Prevalence ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is thought to stem from the body's inability to store excess energy in adipocytes; as such, it is commonly viewed as the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome. The pathogenesis of NAFLD involves ectopic fat accumulation, which also takes place in the liver, muscle and visceral fat. NAFLD is rapidly becoming more widespread in Korea, with an estimated prevalence of 30% in adults. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and NAFLD share insulin resistance as a common pathophysiological mechanism, and each of these two diseases affects the development of the other. Recent studies have suggested that NAFLD is often present as a comorbidity in T2DM patients. The mutual interrelationship between these conditions is shown by findings suggesting that T2DM can exacerbate NAFLD by promoting progression to nonalcoholic hepatosteatosis or fibrosis, while NAFLD causes the natural course of diabetic complications to worsen in T2DM patients. It remains unknown whether one disease is the cause of the other or vice versa. In this review, I would like to discuss current epidemiological data on the associations between NAFLD and T2DM, and how each disease affects the course of the other.
Adipocytes ; Adult ; Comorbidity ; Diabetes Complications ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Epidemiology ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Intra-Abdominal Fat ; Korea ; Liver ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; Prevalence

Although non-alcoholic fatty liver disease has been reported as a cardiometabolic risk factor, the effect of non-alcoholic fatty liver is yet to be clarified on abdominal obesity. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the longitudinal relationship of non-alcoholic fatty liver on the development of abdominal obesity. The study participants were composed of 11,212 Korean men without abdominal obesity. They were followed up from 2005 to 2010 to be monitored for the development of abdominal obesity according to their degree of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (normal, mild, and moderate to severe). Cox-proportional hazard model was used to calculate the hazard ratios for abdominal obesity according to the degree of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. While the average incidence was 15.5%, the incidence of abdominal obesity increased according to the degree of non-alcoholic fatty liver (normal: 11.6%, mild: 25.2%, moderate to severe: 41.0%, P < 0.001). Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios for abdominal obesity independently increased proportionally to the degree of NAFLD (mild [1.07; 0.94-1.23], moderate to severe [1.58; 1.11-2.26], P for trend < 0.001). The risk of abdominal obesity increased proportionally to the degree of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This finding guarantees further studies to reveal the incidental relationship of abdominal obesity with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cohort Studies ; Demography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/complications/*epidemiology ; Obesity, Abdominal/*complications/epidemiology ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Prospective Studies ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Waist Circumference

PURPOSE: The severity of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) population compared with that in normal glucose tolerance (NGT) individuals has not yet been quantitatively assessed. We investigated the prevalence and the severity of NAFLD in a T2DM population using controlled attenuation parameter (CAP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects who underwent testing for biomarkers related to T2DM and CAP using Fibroscan® during a regular health check-up were enrolled. CAP values of 250 dB/m and 300 dB/m were selected as the cutoffs for the presence of NAFLD and for moderate to severe NAFLD, respectively. Biomarkers related to T2DM included fasting glucose/insulin, fasting C-peptide, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), glycoalbumin, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). RESULTS: Among 340 study participants (T2DM, n=66; pre-diabetes, n=202; NGT, n=72), the proportion of subjects with NAFLD increased according to the glucose tolerance status (31.9% in NGT; 47.0% in pre-diabetes; 57.6% in T2DM). The median CAP value was significantly higher in subjects with T2DM (265 dB/m) than in those with pre-diabetes (245 dB/m) or NGT (231 dB/m) (all p<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that subjects with moderate to severe NAFLD had a 2.8-fold (odds ratio) higher risk of having T2DM than those without NAFLD (p=0.02; 95% confidence interval, 1.21-6.64), and positive correlations between the CAP value and HOMA-IR (ρ=0.407) or fasting C-peptide (ρ=0.402) were demonstrated. CONCLUSION: Subjects with T2DM had a higher prevalence of severe NAFLD than those with NGT. Increased hepatic steatosis was significantly associated with the presence of T2DM, and insulin resistance induced by hepatic fat may be an important mechanistic connection.
Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers/metabolism ; C-Peptide/metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/*complications/metabolism ; Female ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated/metabolism ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/*epidemiology/metabolism/pathology ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an emerging problem in Asia, but little is known about the disease in the nonobese population. The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence of NAFLD and the factors associated with it in a nonobese Korean population and to compare the clinical characteristics of nonobese and obese subjects with NAFLD. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used data from 2,058 subjects who participated in a medical checkup program. RESULTS: The prevalence of NAFLD was 12.4% (213/1,711) in the nonobese population. A higher body mass index (BMI), higher homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) values, higher alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, triglyceride concentrations 150 mg/dL, and hyperuricemia were independently associated with the presence of NAFLD in the nonobese subjects. Compared with the obese subjects with NAFLD, the nonobese subjects with NAFLD were composed of a higher proportion of females and had lower BMIs, smaller waist circumferences, lower HOMA-IR values, and fewer metabolic irregularities. CONCLUSIONS: Higher BMIs, HOMA-IR values, ALT levels, hypertriglyceridemia, and hyperuricemia were associated with NAFLD in the nonobese subjects. Clinicians should be particularly aware of the possibility of NAFLD in nonobese Asian people.
Adult ; Alanine Transaminase/blood ; Anthropometry ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/*statistics & numerical data ; Body Mass Index ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Hypertriglyceridemia/complications ; Hyperuricemia/complications ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/blood/*epidemiology/*etiology ; Obesity/complications ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors ; Triglycerides/blood ; Waist Circumference

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hypothyroidism is reported to contribute to the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We compared the risk of the development of NAFLD among three groups with different thyroid hormonal statuses (control, subclinical hypothyroidism, and overt hypothyroidism) in a 4-year retrospective cohort of Korean subjects. METHODS: Apparently healthy Korean subjects without NAFLD and aged 20-65 years were recruited (n=18,544) at health checkups performed in 2008. Annual health checkups were applied to the cohort for 4 consecutive years until December 2012. Based on their initial serum-free thyroxine (fT4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels, they were classified into control, subclinical hypothyroidism (TSH >4.2 mIU/L, normal fT4), and overt hypothyroidism (TSH >4.2 mIU/L, fT4 <0.97 ng/dL) groups. NAFLD was diagnosed on the basis of ultrasonography findings. RESULTS: NAFLD developed in 2,348 of the 18,544 subjects, representing an overall incidence of 12.7%: 12.8%, 11.0%, 12.7% in the control, subclinical hypothyroidism, and overt hypothyroidism groups, respectively. The incidence of NAFLD did not differ significantly with the baseline thyroid hormonal status, even after multivariate adjustment (subclinical hypothyroidism group: hazard ratio [HR]=0.965, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.814-1.143, P=0.67; overt hypothyroidism group: HR=1.255, 95% CI=0.830-1.899, P=0.28). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the subclinical and overt types of hypothyroidism are not related to an increased incidence of NAFLD.
Adult ; Aged ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism/*complications/*diagnosis ; Incidence ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Liver/ultrasonography ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/*complications/*diagnosis/epidemiology ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Thyrotropin/analysis ; Thyroxine/analysis

Previous epidemiologic studies have shown the clinical association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, there is only limited information about the effect of NAFLD on the development of hypertension. Accordingly, we investigated the clinical association between NAFLD and prehypertension. A prospective cohort study was conducted on the 11,350 Korean men without prehypertension for 5 yr. The incidences of prehypertension were evaluated, and Cox proportional hazard model was used to measure the hazard ratios (HRs) for the development of prehypertension according to the degree of NAFLD (normal, mild, moderate to severe). The incidence of prehypertension increased according to NAFLD states (normal: 55.5%, mild: 63.7%, moderate to severe: 70.3%, P<0.001). Even after adjusting for multiple covariates, the HRs (95% confidence interval) for prehypertension were higher in the mild group (1.18; 1.07-1.31) and moderate to severe group (1.62; 1.21-2.17), compared to normal group, respectively (P for trend <0.001). The development of prehypertension is more potentially associated with the more progressive NAFLD than normal and milder state. These findings suggest the clinical significance of NAFLD as one of risk factors for prehypertension.
Adult ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Cohort Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/complications/diagnosis ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/complications/*diagnosis ; Prehypertension/diagnosis/*epidemiology/etiology ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Smoking