Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and its associated risk factors in Brazilian postmenopausal women

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in postmenopausal women.

Methods A cross-sectional study was carried involving 188 women (age ≥ 45 years and amenorrhea ≥ 12 months) attending the outpatient unit in south-eastern Brazil. Exclusion criteria were liver disease (hepatitis B and C, cholestatic disease, liver insufficiency), use of drugs that affect liver metabolism; alcoholics; AIDS or cancer history; and morbid obesity. NAFLD was diagnosed by abdominal ultrasound. Clinical, anthropometric (body mass index, waist circumference) and biochemical variables were measured.

Results Of the 188 women, 73 (38.8%) had NAFLD. Blood pressure, waist circumference, body mass index, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose were significantly higher in NAFLD patients when compared with women without NAFLD (control group) (p < 0.05). HOMA-IR values indicated insulin resistance only in the NAFLD group (6.1 ± 4.6 vs. 2.4 ± 1.4 in control group, p < 0.05). Metabolic syndrome was detected in 93.1% of the women affected by NAFLD, and 46.1% of the control group (p < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, adjusted for age and weight, the variables considered at risk for the development of NAFLD, were: high waist circumference (odds ratio (OR) 1.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01–1.13), insulin resistance (OR 3.81, 95% CI 2.01–7.13), and presence of metabolic syndrome (OR 8.68, 95% CI 3.3–24.1).

Conclusion NAFLD showed a high prevalence among postmenopausal women. The presence of metabolic syndrome, abdominal obesity and IR were indicators of risk for the development of NAFLD.

Key words::

• MENOPAUSE
• NON-ALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE
• INSULIN RESISTANCE
• METABOLIC SYNDROME

Conflict of interest The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Source of funding This study was supported by the Santa Casa Hospital of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.