Prevalence of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease among Obese Patients Presented in Liaquat University Hospital Hyderabad/Jamshoro : Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease among Obese Patients

Yasra Memon; Ghulam Fareed; Tariq Zaffar Shaikh; Kamran Ali Qureshi; Imran Karim; Zaheer Hussain Memon

doi:10.54393/pjhs.v6i1.2165

Authors

Yasra Memon Department of Medicine, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Pakistan
Ghulam Fareed Department of Medicine, Isra University Hospital, Hyderabad, Pakistan
Tariq Zaffar Shaikh Department of Medicine, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Pakistan
Kamran Ali Qureshi Department of Medicine, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Pakistan
Imran Karim Department of Medicine, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Pakistan
Zaheer Hussain Memon Department of Medicine, Suleman Roshan Medical College Tando Adam, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54393/pjhs.v6i1.2165

Keywords:

NAFLD, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Obesity, BMI, Fatty Liver, Prevalence, Pakistan

Abstract

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is a common liver disorder strongly linked to obesity and metabolic syndromes. Its identification in obese patients is critical for early management and prevention of complications. Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of NAFLD in obese patients presenting to a tertiary care hospital in Hyderabad, Pakistan. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Liaquat University Hospital Hyderabad and Jamshoro, over six months. Initially, 78 obese patients (BMI>30) were included through convenience sampling but after weight adjustment (IPW) it became 500 Patients. Demographic, anthropometric, and clinical data were collected. NAFLD diagnosis was based on ultrasound findings. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22.0. Results: The prevalence of NAFLD was 41% in obese patients presented to hospital. In the adjusted model, BMI was the strongest predictor of NAFLD (OR = 1.205, 95% CI: 1.165–1.246, p<0.001), with each unit increase in BMI increasing the odds of NAFLD by 20.5%. Male had significantly lower odds of NAFLD compared to female (OR = 0.644, 95% CI: 0.540–0.767, p<0.001). Waist circumference (OR = 0.981, p=0.017p) and weight (OR = 0.969, p<0.001) were negatively associated with NAFLD, likely reflecting residual effects after adjusting for BMI. Conclusions: NAFLD is prevalent among obese patients in Pakistan, with Body Mass Index as the primary risk factor. Adjusting for sampling biases via IPW provided more accurate and generalizable findings. Routine screening for NAFLD and targeted interventions for weight management, particularly in female, are essential to mitigate disease progression.

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