Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) risk factors

risk factors associated with non alcoholic fatty liver disease

Conditions with established association

• obesity
  • is a common and well documented risk factor for NAFLD and is the main cause for the greater prevalence of NAFLD in the community
• type 2 diabetes mellitus
  • association between NAFLD and type 2 diabetes is greater (even beyond adiposity)
  • male sex and a family history of type 2 diabetes are also linked with a greater risk of NAFLD and NASH at any given body mass index
• dyslipidemia
• metabolic syndrome

Conditions with emerging association

• polycystic ovary syndrome
• hypothyroidism
• obstructive sleep apnoea
• hypopituitarism
• hypogonadism
• pancreato-duodenal resection

Reference:

• (1) Chalasani N et al. The diagnosis and management of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: practice Guideline by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, American College of Gastroenterology, and the American Gastroenterological Association. Hepatology. 2012;55(6):2005-23
• (2) Sattar N, Forrest E, Preiss D. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. BMJ. 2014;349:g4596