Prevalen
Prevalence
of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver among Adults in Khartoum- Sudan: Epidemiological
Survey
Bahaaedin A. Elkhader 1,
Mustafa Z. Mahmoud 2, 3
1. Al-Ghad International Medical Sciences Colleges,
Medical Imaging Technology Department, Abha- Saudi Arabia.
2. Salman bin Abdulaziz University, College of
Applied Medical Sciences, Radiology and Medical Imaging Department, P. O. Box:
422, Al-Kharj- Saudi Arabia.
3. Sudan University of Science and Technology,
College of Medical Radiological Science, Basic Sciences Department, P. O. Box:
1908, Khartoum- Sudan.
Abstract: Non-alcoholic
fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is diagnosed increasingly in adults, but the
prevalence remains unknown. This study was designed with an aim to determine
the prevalence of NAFLD in a population based sample in Khartoum- Sudan by an
epidemiological survey. A prospective, cross-sectional study was carried out among
500 Sudanese adults (200; 40% males and 300; 60% females) aged 15 to 80 years,
in between March 2011 to March 2013. Participants underwent physical
examination, laboratory tests and ultrasonography examination of the liver.
Diagnosis of NAFLD in this study was based on sonographic evidence of a NAFLD
and testing negative for serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and
anti-hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV) antibody. Of the 500 participants
negative for HBsAg or anti-HCV antibody, the overall prevalence of NAFLD 15%,
4.4% in males and 6.6% in females. NAFLD prevalence differs by race and
ethnicity; location in Sudan (Center: 36.36%; North: 7.27%; South: 21.82%;
East: 16.36% and West: 18.18%). The most significant factors associated with
the presence of NAFLD were weight category, elevated alanine aminotransferase
(ALT) and increase Non high density lipoprotein (Non-HDL) cholesterol level.
Obesity is a major risk factor and is associated with high rates of NAFLD. It
is recommended that ultrasonography of the liver to be included in the routine
health examinations of obese adults. Clinicians must be aware of the
limitations in the available methods to diagnose NAFLD.
[Elkhader BA, Mahmoud MZ. Prevalence of
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver among Adults in Khartoum- Sudan: Epidemiological
Survey. J Am Sci 2013;9(6):62-66]. (ISSN:
1545-1003). http://www.jofamericanscience.org. 8
Keywords: Alanine aminotransferase (ALT); high density
lipoprotein (HDL); non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); ultrasound. Full Text 8
