TITLE:
A Cross Sectional Study on the Correlation between Waist Circumference and Fatty Liver on Ultrasonography among Non-Alcoholic Filipino Adults
AUTHORS:
Arriza Kryssan S. Monjardin-Soria
KEYWORDS:
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver, Waist Circumference, NAFLD
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases,
Vol.13 No.1,
January
31,
2023
ABSTRACT: Objectives: This study aimed to determine the correlation between waist circumference and
fatty liver on ultrasonography among non-alcoholic Filipino adults. This will aid in detecting non-alcoholic
fatty liver disease in its early course, hence improving our current therapeutic recommendations in preventing and managing the adverse health outcomes of NAFLD. Methods and Materials: A cross-sectional study with a total of 65 recruited participants. The data
collected were age, sex, waist-circumference, co-morbidities with maintenance medications, history of alcohol
intake with emphasis on the quantity and duration, and history of drug intake.
Waist circumference was measured and recorded. The presence of NAFLD was
determined through a review of the ultrasonography results of all subjects. The
demographic profile and waist circumference
of all subjects were described using descriptive statistics. The chi-square test was utilized to test the
independence of the NAFLD and WC in the quartile. Pearson correlation was used to determine
the linear relationship between the variables. Pearson correlation
coefficient was statistically significant at
p 0.05. Results: Among the subjects, 26 (42%)
presented with fatty liver based on ultrasonography, 15 (58%) and 11 (42%), males and females, respectively. The mean
waist circumference of 97.5 ± 12.43 was significantly
related to the fatty liver with a p-value of 0.0001. Waist circumference showed a positive
correlation with the frequency of fatty liver on ultrasonography with p-values
of 0.000755 (r = 0.590083) and 3.04366E—05
(r = 0.659143523), in males and
females, correspondingly. The overall correlation between waist circumference
and fatty liver on ultrasonography is statistically significant with a p-value of 4.10503E—08 (r = 0.634737127). Conclusion: One measure used to assess central obesity is waist
circumference. In addition, it can also be
utilized to assess risk for NAFLD since they are strongly correlated as
reported in this study. Waist circumference cut-off values for the Filipinos proposed in this study are the following: >88 cm
and >95 cm, in males and females, respectively.